Greetings!
It seems that I always start by apologizing for the long delay, but I actually have a reason for the delay this time. About 4 weeks ago, I had an accident while rollerblading. I fell and badly sprained my left elbow. I actually landed on my wrist, but it wasn't damaged. Somehow, the elbow took the brunt of the fall. I came very close to fracturing it and can only be grateful that I didn't. However, it was VERY painful. I had to wear a brace and a sling for 3 weeks, which made it very difficult to do anything with the arm, especially type. I'm better now, though. My arm is still sore, but I can actually use it. YAY!
So, here is the next chapter. I won't be replying to the reviews this time, but I am very grateful for those that took the time to review. You're all so very encouraging, and I felt extremely guilty for not posting a chapter sooner. Thank you so much!!
**~~**
Part 12: Bring Me Back to Life
~How can you see into my eyes, like open doors
Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb
Without a soul, my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home~
Yami stood at the open door to Yugi's soul room and stared at the emptiness inside.
He couldn't get the look on Yugi's face, the mistrust and fear in his eyes, out of his mind. Ever since he'd spoken to his partner, Yami had been mulling over just what had happened to Yugi to make him so distrustful and afraid of others. Yugi had always been open and accepting of other people, which was one of his greatest gifts. Sometimes, Yami had gently chastised him about it, because it had led to Yugi being hurt on many occasions. Even though Yugi had tried to be a bit more careful, his core personality had never really changed and he'd remained the trusting person he'd always been.
Now, however, it was all different. Yes, Yami understood that Yugi had lost his memory and did not remember anything from his past, not even him. However, he had been shocked when Yugi had not even been willing to talk to him, let him explain what he was or what Yugi meant to him. It was as if Yugi was already frightened of him, without even knowing who he was. Yami had tried to be calming and understanding when he'd spoken to his partner, but it hadn't worked. He had only managed to further frighten the teenager.
Yami was now even more worried about Yugi. Whatever had happened to Yugi in the time he'd been missing must have been serious enough to turn the otherwise good natured teen into the frightened and reserved boy Yami had seen. It was ironic that Yami had seen Seto Kaiba sitting next to Yugi, since that was who Yugi reminded Yami of now. Yami wanted to know the details of Yugi's life during the missing time. He wanted to be informed of what had happened; that was the only way he would be able to help Yugi. Yugi was the only person who knew what had happened to him, and Yami didn't think that he would be very willing to share that information, especially not with him.
With a sigh, Yami turned away from Yugi's soul room and entered his own. He shut the door behind him, letting the familiar darkness overwhelm him. He was lost, of that he was sure. He was not in his time, nor was he a part of Yugi's time anymore. He was once again a prisoner of the puzzle, with the exception that this time, he was aware of the passage of time. He was aware that he had a partner, a soul mate, one who refused to have anything to do with him. He was a protector, yes. He'd sworn his allegiance and protection to Yugi. Even with that pledge, however, Yami was still himself. His spirit existed, and with it came feelings. He had been alive once, even though he didn't remember any of that time. Having experienced the world through the filter of Yugi's mind had awakened his senses, and he missed that life.
He was alone in the darkness that had created him, the pressing nothingness that had kept him alive for millennia. He was back where he belonged, it seemed. He did not want to remain there, however. He wanted the light.
~(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become~
Yami knew that it was not Yugi's responsibility to worry about him, to be concerned for his well being. After all, Yami was the protector. It was his job to make sure Yugi was safe, and he had already failed miserably at that. If he had done his duty, neither one of them would be in their current situation.
Yugi hadn't asked to be given the puzzle; he hadn't asked to become involved in the dangers surrounding the Millennium Items or their magic. Destiny had chosen him to be the one, and Yugi had always accepted fate as if he had always known what it had in store for him. It pained Yami to see his once strong and determined partner so unsure of himself and afraid. He would give anything to help him, to give Yugi what he was missing, and to have Yugi give him what was missing from his soul.
~Now that I know what I'm without, you can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life~
Yami sat down on the floor in the middle of his soul room and looked around the darkness that surrounded him. All the memories he had were of times shared with Yugi. He did not remember anything from before. Usually, he could live with that, because he was with Yugi. It angered him that his own life had been ripped from him millennia ago, but the anger was always manageable when he had a purpose to exist, even if that was to protect someone else. Where was he now? What was he supposed to do? He couldn't escape the bond he had with Yugi, because as long as Yugi was alive, Yami was bound to him. He didn't want to escape that bond, however. Yami wanted to restore it, rebuild it, because without it, there was nothing. Without it, he was nothing.
~Frozen inside without your touch without your love
Darling, only you are the life among the dead
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become~
**~~**
At first, Jomei wanted to pull away from the elderly man. It took everything he had not to just wrench himself free. After a few moments, however, he realized that the man was holding him tight not to hurt him, but to reassure him. When the older man started speaking, Jomei couldn't help but feel for him, noting the pain, anguish and guilt in his voice. He let himself relax in the embrace, wondering what it had felt to be hugged by this man before he'd forgotten everything about himself.
A few minutes passed, and the man still did not release him. He'd stopped sobbing and how just held him tenderly, his hands rubbing soothing circles on Jomei's back. Jomei couldn't remember when someone had done this to him. He couldn't remember feeling this loved and wanted before.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Moto said, his hands still wrapped around Jomei. "I don't want to let you go, my boy, even though I know I have to."
Jomei said nothing. His arms were by his sides, but he had relaxed a little. He turned to the two other people in the room and saw that Joey had tears running down his face, while Seto was looking away from them. He looked down at the man's wheelchair and wondered how he'd gotten that way.
Finally, after another few moments, Mr. Moto let him go. He smiled crookedly at Jomei, clumsily wiping at his tears.
"I have missed you so much. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
Jomei saw that Mr. Moto wanted to say more, but he held back. He could only imagine the questions the older man had. Unfortunately, Jomei probably wouldn't have answers for him.
"So you're Yugi's grandfather?" Jomei asked, wanting to thread carefully after the reaction Mr. Moto had seeing him.
Mr. Moto's eyes narrowed slightly and welled up with tears, before he nodded.
"Yes, I'm your grandfather."
An awkward silence ruled, until the blond teenager broke it.
"So, Jomei, how are you feeling? The doc told us that you were going to be okay."
Jomei nodded and motioned for both Joey and Seto to sit down somewhere. They looked too much like guards the way they were standing.
"I'm okay, really. They shouldn't have brought me to the hospital," Jomei replied, feeling a bit foolish and uncomfortable at the attention he was getting.
"So where is your guardian?" Mr. Moto asked, and Jomei couldn't help but hear the venom in his voice.
At the thought of Asami, Jomei froze. The guilt he'd felt at what he'd done suddenly came back to him, and he began to shake a bit. Seto and Joey had told him that Asami was alive, but what if they'd been lying to him? Did he really want to know the truth?
"I don't know," Jomei whispered. "I haven't seen him since. . ."
He looked away from Mr. Moto's kind eyes, feeling ashamed for what he'd done.
"I can go find out, Gramps."
"No, Joey, it's okay. Jomei, how did you come to be with him? Did someone take you to him?"
Jomei looked up when he heard his name, frowning at the question. How had he come to be with Asami? He'd never really given it much thought because he thought he'd been where he belonged.
"I don't really know how I came to be with him, Mr. Moto. I just was. He's all I remember," he finally answered. "As far back as I can remember, he was my caretaker, my warden," Jomei added, his tone soft and bitter.
Mr. Moto, who was still close enough to Jomei, reached out and laid a weathered hand on his knee, patting it consolingly.
"You're back where you belong now, Jomei. You don't have to worry about him ever again."
Jomei looked at the man's hand resting on his leg and wanted more than anything to believe him. He found, however, that he couldn't. He had never been given a reason to give his trust to anyone, and he didn't think that he could start now. He was, however, ready to ask some questions of his own.
"How did I come to be lost? What happened to me?"
Jomei kept his eyes on Mr. Moto. However, out of the corner of his eye, he could see both Joey and Seto shift uncomfortably. No one said anything, until Mr. Moto finally sighed. When he spoke, his voice was soft, and Jomei couldn't help but hear the sadness in the tone.
"I don't really know what happened. Every night since then, I've lived with the fact that I wasn't there to help you when you needed me. I wasn't there to keep you from being taken." He took a deep breath, before he continued. "I was asleep in my room, which is just down the hall from yours. I heard you screaming, calling out to me to help you. Then everything was quiet. When I got to your room, I saw someone carrying you. I tried to stop him, but was unable to. He pushed me down the stairs, and the last thing I saw was the man taking you away." Mr. Moto's voice broke, and he lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Yugi. I'm so sorry that I couldn't do anything to keep you safe."
Jomei's eyes watered at the sorrow and regret in the older man's voice. He didn't want to believe that someone actually cared about him, but he couldn't dismiss the feelings of the man sitting beside him. Jomei reached out and put a hand on top of the man's arm.
"Was that how you ended up in that chair?"
Mr. Moto looked up, meeting Jomei's eyes. He nodded slowly.
"The man that took you knocked me down the stairs and I ended up with a broken back. It was the only reason I didn't go after you."
Jomei sighed. "It's okay, I'm okay now." What else could he say?
"You always were the positive one, my boy," Mr. Moto said, visibly pulling himself out of his sorrow and guilt. "You're right, it's useless to dwell on the past. We'll all help you remember and we'll keep you safe, that's a promise."
**~~**
"What room is he in?"
"He's in that one, at the end of the hall."
Shadow nodded and made his way to the indicated room. He hated when plans went awry. It messed things up and got people hurt. They were professionals and prided themselves in their ability to operate right under the noses of the authorities. Every once in a while, however, something happened to throw a wrench in their plans. In this particular case, it was a boy named Yugi Moto. The situation with the boy had to be resolved fast, before their entire operation unraveled in front of their eyes. Before the night was finished, they would regain control, no matter what.
"This is the plan, so listen carefully," Shadow explained as he and his accomplice moved towards the indicated room, "Asami is compromised and must be gotten rid of. We can't take the chance that he will talk to the police, because that'll only mean trouble for the rest of us. We go in there and we eliminate him."
His accomplice took out his gun and swiftly placed the silencer on it, while Shadow did the same thing.
"What about the kid? He can ruin it for all of us too."
Shadow shook his head.
"The kid has no idea what he's a part of, and we're going to keep it that way," Shadow explained. "Asami was very pleased with the boy, and it would be a shame to simply kill him. Instead, we're going to take him, erase his memory again and place him somewhere else."
His accomplice stopped, and Shadow looked at him quizzically.
"Isn't that drug dangerous? You said that repeated use can lead to brain damage."
Shadow chuckled softly.
"So what? We don't need the kid to be a genius, just to be able to do manual labor. A little brain damage can be dealt with."
Shadow took the lead and stopped as he reached the room Asami was in.
"One shot, that's all it'll take."
The accomplice nodded, and together they entered the room, intent on completing their task.
**~~**
Song credit: Bring Me Back to Life, performed by Evanescence. This is a hauntingly beautiful song. If you can find it somewhere, please listen to it. It's such a Yami song.lol! It's a Yami/Yugi song too, if you're into that :o)
Next up: I actually don't know. I got a wicked fanfic idea from watching episode 118 over the weekend (Gozaburo Kaiba really was a jerk. . . but boy does that have possibilities.) so I haven't been able to take my mind off that. We'll see if it turns into a fic or not. It'd probably be Seto centric if it does, though!
It seems that I always start by apologizing for the long delay, but I actually have a reason for the delay this time. About 4 weeks ago, I had an accident while rollerblading. I fell and badly sprained my left elbow. I actually landed on my wrist, but it wasn't damaged. Somehow, the elbow took the brunt of the fall. I came very close to fracturing it and can only be grateful that I didn't. However, it was VERY painful. I had to wear a brace and a sling for 3 weeks, which made it very difficult to do anything with the arm, especially type. I'm better now, though. My arm is still sore, but I can actually use it. YAY!
So, here is the next chapter. I won't be replying to the reviews this time, but I am very grateful for those that took the time to review. You're all so very encouraging, and I felt extremely guilty for not posting a chapter sooner. Thank you so much!!
**~~**
Part 12: Bring Me Back to Life
~How can you see into my eyes, like open doors
Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb
Without a soul, my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home~
Yami stood at the open door to Yugi's soul room and stared at the emptiness inside.
He couldn't get the look on Yugi's face, the mistrust and fear in his eyes, out of his mind. Ever since he'd spoken to his partner, Yami had been mulling over just what had happened to Yugi to make him so distrustful and afraid of others. Yugi had always been open and accepting of other people, which was one of his greatest gifts. Sometimes, Yami had gently chastised him about it, because it had led to Yugi being hurt on many occasions. Even though Yugi had tried to be a bit more careful, his core personality had never really changed and he'd remained the trusting person he'd always been.
Now, however, it was all different. Yes, Yami understood that Yugi had lost his memory and did not remember anything from his past, not even him. However, he had been shocked when Yugi had not even been willing to talk to him, let him explain what he was or what Yugi meant to him. It was as if Yugi was already frightened of him, without even knowing who he was. Yami had tried to be calming and understanding when he'd spoken to his partner, but it hadn't worked. He had only managed to further frighten the teenager.
Yami was now even more worried about Yugi. Whatever had happened to Yugi in the time he'd been missing must have been serious enough to turn the otherwise good natured teen into the frightened and reserved boy Yami had seen. It was ironic that Yami had seen Seto Kaiba sitting next to Yugi, since that was who Yugi reminded Yami of now. Yami wanted to know the details of Yugi's life during the missing time. He wanted to be informed of what had happened; that was the only way he would be able to help Yugi. Yugi was the only person who knew what had happened to him, and Yami didn't think that he would be very willing to share that information, especially not with him.
With a sigh, Yami turned away from Yugi's soul room and entered his own. He shut the door behind him, letting the familiar darkness overwhelm him. He was lost, of that he was sure. He was not in his time, nor was he a part of Yugi's time anymore. He was once again a prisoner of the puzzle, with the exception that this time, he was aware of the passage of time. He was aware that he had a partner, a soul mate, one who refused to have anything to do with him. He was a protector, yes. He'd sworn his allegiance and protection to Yugi. Even with that pledge, however, Yami was still himself. His spirit existed, and with it came feelings. He had been alive once, even though he didn't remember any of that time. Having experienced the world through the filter of Yugi's mind had awakened his senses, and he missed that life.
He was alone in the darkness that had created him, the pressing nothingness that had kept him alive for millennia. He was back where he belonged, it seemed. He did not want to remain there, however. He wanted the light.
~(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become~
Yami knew that it was not Yugi's responsibility to worry about him, to be concerned for his well being. After all, Yami was the protector. It was his job to make sure Yugi was safe, and he had already failed miserably at that. If he had done his duty, neither one of them would be in their current situation.
Yugi hadn't asked to be given the puzzle; he hadn't asked to become involved in the dangers surrounding the Millennium Items or their magic. Destiny had chosen him to be the one, and Yugi had always accepted fate as if he had always known what it had in store for him. It pained Yami to see his once strong and determined partner so unsure of himself and afraid. He would give anything to help him, to give Yugi what he was missing, and to have Yugi give him what was missing from his soul.
~Now that I know what I'm without, you can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real
Bring me to life~
Yami sat down on the floor in the middle of his soul room and looked around the darkness that surrounded him. All the memories he had were of times shared with Yugi. He did not remember anything from before. Usually, he could live with that, because he was with Yugi. It angered him that his own life had been ripped from him millennia ago, but the anger was always manageable when he had a purpose to exist, even if that was to protect someone else. Where was he now? What was he supposed to do? He couldn't escape the bond he had with Yugi, because as long as Yugi was alive, Yami was bound to him. He didn't want to escape that bond, however. Yami wanted to restore it, rebuild it, because without it, there was nothing. Without it, he was nothing.
~Frozen inside without your touch without your love
Darling, only you are the life among the dead
(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
Before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become~
**~~**
At first, Jomei wanted to pull away from the elderly man. It took everything he had not to just wrench himself free. After a few moments, however, he realized that the man was holding him tight not to hurt him, but to reassure him. When the older man started speaking, Jomei couldn't help but feel for him, noting the pain, anguish and guilt in his voice. He let himself relax in the embrace, wondering what it had felt to be hugged by this man before he'd forgotten everything about himself.
A few minutes passed, and the man still did not release him. He'd stopped sobbing and how just held him tenderly, his hands rubbing soothing circles on Jomei's back. Jomei couldn't remember when someone had done this to him. He couldn't remember feeling this loved and wanted before.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Moto said, his hands still wrapped around Jomei. "I don't want to let you go, my boy, even though I know I have to."
Jomei said nothing. His arms were by his sides, but he had relaxed a little. He turned to the two other people in the room and saw that Joey had tears running down his face, while Seto was looking away from them. He looked down at the man's wheelchair and wondered how he'd gotten that way.
Finally, after another few moments, Mr. Moto let him go. He smiled crookedly at Jomei, clumsily wiping at his tears.
"I have missed you so much. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
Jomei saw that Mr. Moto wanted to say more, but he held back. He could only imagine the questions the older man had. Unfortunately, Jomei probably wouldn't have answers for him.
"So you're Yugi's grandfather?" Jomei asked, wanting to thread carefully after the reaction Mr. Moto had seeing him.
Mr. Moto's eyes narrowed slightly and welled up with tears, before he nodded.
"Yes, I'm your grandfather."
An awkward silence ruled, until the blond teenager broke it.
"So, Jomei, how are you feeling? The doc told us that you were going to be okay."
Jomei nodded and motioned for both Joey and Seto to sit down somewhere. They looked too much like guards the way they were standing.
"I'm okay, really. They shouldn't have brought me to the hospital," Jomei replied, feeling a bit foolish and uncomfortable at the attention he was getting.
"So where is your guardian?" Mr. Moto asked, and Jomei couldn't help but hear the venom in his voice.
At the thought of Asami, Jomei froze. The guilt he'd felt at what he'd done suddenly came back to him, and he began to shake a bit. Seto and Joey had told him that Asami was alive, but what if they'd been lying to him? Did he really want to know the truth?
"I don't know," Jomei whispered. "I haven't seen him since. . ."
He looked away from Mr. Moto's kind eyes, feeling ashamed for what he'd done.
"I can go find out, Gramps."
"No, Joey, it's okay. Jomei, how did you come to be with him? Did someone take you to him?"
Jomei looked up when he heard his name, frowning at the question. How had he come to be with Asami? He'd never really given it much thought because he thought he'd been where he belonged.
"I don't really know how I came to be with him, Mr. Moto. I just was. He's all I remember," he finally answered. "As far back as I can remember, he was my caretaker, my warden," Jomei added, his tone soft and bitter.
Mr. Moto, who was still close enough to Jomei, reached out and laid a weathered hand on his knee, patting it consolingly.
"You're back where you belong now, Jomei. You don't have to worry about him ever again."
Jomei looked at the man's hand resting on his leg and wanted more than anything to believe him. He found, however, that he couldn't. He had never been given a reason to give his trust to anyone, and he didn't think that he could start now. He was, however, ready to ask some questions of his own.
"How did I come to be lost? What happened to me?"
Jomei kept his eyes on Mr. Moto. However, out of the corner of his eye, he could see both Joey and Seto shift uncomfortably. No one said anything, until Mr. Moto finally sighed. When he spoke, his voice was soft, and Jomei couldn't help but hear the sadness in the tone.
"I don't really know what happened. Every night since then, I've lived with the fact that I wasn't there to help you when you needed me. I wasn't there to keep you from being taken." He took a deep breath, before he continued. "I was asleep in my room, which is just down the hall from yours. I heard you screaming, calling out to me to help you. Then everything was quiet. When I got to your room, I saw someone carrying you. I tried to stop him, but was unable to. He pushed me down the stairs, and the last thing I saw was the man taking you away." Mr. Moto's voice broke, and he lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Yugi. I'm so sorry that I couldn't do anything to keep you safe."
Jomei's eyes watered at the sorrow and regret in the older man's voice. He didn't want to believe that someone actually cared about him, but he couldn't dismiss the feelings of the man sitting beside him. Jomei reached out and put a hand on top of the man's arm.
"Was that how you ended up in that chair?"
Mr. Moto looked up, meeting Jomei's eyes. He nodded slowly.
"The man that took you knocked me down the stairs and I ended up with a broken back. It was the only reason I didn't go after you."
Jomei sighed. "It's okay, I'm okay now." What else could he say?
"You always were the positive one, my boy," Mr. Moto said, visibly pulling himself out of his sorrow and guilt. "You're right, it's useless to dwell on the past. We'll all help you remember and we'll keep you safe, that's a promise."
**~~**
"What room is he in?"
"He's in that one, at the end of the hall."
Shadow nodded and made his way to the indicated room. He hated when plans went awry. It messed things up and got people hurt. They were professionals and prided themselves in their ability to operate right under the noses of the authorities. Every once in a while, however, something happened to throw a wrench in their plans. In this particular case, it was a boy named Yugi Moto. The situation with the boy had to be resolved fast, before their entire operation unraveled in front of their eyes. Before the night was finished, they would regain control, no matter what.
"This is the plan, so listen carefully," Shadow explained as he and his accomplice moved towards the indicated room, "Asami is compromised and must be gotten rid of. We can't take the chance that he will talk to the police, because that'll only mean trouble for the rest of us. We go in there and we eliminate him."
His accomplice took out his gun and swiftly placed the silencer on it, while Shadow did the same thing.
"What about the kid? He can ruin it for all of us too."
Shadow shook his head.
"The kid has no idea what he's a part of, and we're going to keep it that way," Shadow explained. "Asami was very pleased with the boy, and it would be a shame to simply kill him. Instead, we're going to take him, erase his memory again and place him somewhere else."
His accomplice stopped, and Shadow looked at him quizzically.
"Isn't that drug dangerous? You said that repeated use can lead to brain damage."
Shadow chuckled softly.
"So what? We don't need the kid to be a genius, just to be able to do manual labor. A little brain damage can be dealt with."
Shadow took the lead and stopped as he reached the room Asami was in.
"One shot, that's all it'll take."
The accomplice nodded, and together they entered the room, intent on completing their task.
**~~**
Song credit: Bring Me Back to Life, performed by Evanescence. This is a hauntingly beautiful song. If you can find it somewhere, please listen to it. It's such a Yami song.lol! It's a Yami/Yugi song too, if you're into that :o)
Next up: I actually don't know. I got a wicked fanfic idea from watching episode 118 over the weekend (Gozaburo Kaiba really was a jerk. . . but boy does that have possibilities.) so I haven't been able to take my mind off that. We'll see if it turns into a fic or not. It'd probably be Seto centric if it does, though!