Hey, hope this isn't too confusing for you. I'm sorry that I haven't gotten much done until now, but I made sure to make it long for you:)
More details at the bottom, so for now, just enjoy :)
XXX
Atem's POV
This room is so cold... I don't know where I am, or what's going on. No, wait! There's a floor. A floor right beneath me that glows. Its see through, and below I can see a battle. An odd battle of Card Games, one that I have not seen before. And who is it that's battling? I cannot hear a sound, but yet I can hear everything. Yugi is down there... and Oni. But I cannot distinguish one from the other. They are both the same. One the reflection of the other. If one's in pain, the other stands tall... but yet, at the same time, If one is tremendously broken, the other will feel it too, and they too will become broken. That is the way it used to be in Ancient Egypt. It was custom to place yourself in the other's shoes, and walk a mile. Feel what they would feel, and treat them how you would want someone to treat yourself.
In this case, Oni is the strong one, and Yugi is the weak one. Though Yugi acts tough, he isn't. He has to become strong on his own; it is not something that anyone can teach him. As much as I wish I could help him, he must do it by himself. Yugi has the potential to be even stronger than he is, for he is not only the reincarnation of me, but he is a direct descendant of an odd family, who held godly powers. I was of this bloodline as well, and have inherited these powers too. But I realized it too late. I realized that I had the power to prevent the destruction of Ancient Egypt with just my name... and I didn't know this until the last second. Thats how I beat the darkness. Yugi has this same potential, and he can only realize it by himself. He has to realize, that... he might be even stronger than me.
Still, he won't be able to realize this unless something happens. Something so unexpected, and so quick that he won't have time to react to something traumatic. He needs it in order to win. Otherwise, we'll all perish, just like he promised when he first spoke to us. When he put us in this realm.
I am weak in this realm, he made sure of that. I can feel the life draining from me, as I sit here, pondering both Yugi and I's fate. I must act quickly before I have no options left, but to perish. But what could I possibly do?
No, I know. There's only one option. Yugi relies on me, and if I'm gone... It might be just enough to push him over the edge. I don't know if doing this would make a difference, but I can try...
And if it does work, he'd have all the power he needs inside him, fully awake and ready to demolish the darkness that threatens him at this very moment...
Yugi's POV
Yugi slowly opened his eyes, heavy with grief and exhaustion. He didn't really sleep, and the brief nap he was able to take was a horror-filled dream of witnessing Yami's death. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. He felt broken, and dead inside. He didn't feel a will to live anymore. But he knew he would, living for the rest of his friends, but still... he'd go on living with only half a heart, because the one person he treasured most was killed by the one person he felt he hated most. Oni.
Oni wasn't gone, he knew. Oni was apart of him. He knew this now. He had to admit, he felt a little wiser now, but still... he wasn't playful. Not like his friends knew him to be.
Even Ia, whom had took to taking care of him all through the night, had seen the difference from the time they met to now. He didn't want to admit it, but he felt that he was losing himself. He didn't know what to do anymore. He was lost, alone, and afraid.
How would one deal with this kind of trauma? He'd never experienced this kind of agony before. Sure it had scared him when his friends were in trouble and were at risk, but he'd always rescued them. He'd never felt the pain of loss.
Ia hadn't said a word since his outburst, and had proceeded to take him to the one place she knew would be safe. Her room.
"You know he isn't gone, right?" Ia had said.
Yugi's tired gaze traveled to her figure, who was lying on the bed. He nodded, "Yes. I know. It'll be over when he becomes apart of me again."
Ia closed her eyes, accepting his answer. "Your friends had told me that they discovered that Oni was not apart of you... but apart of Mariku's past. So wouldn't he just have to be destroyed?"
Yugi shook his head solemnly. "No. He was born into me. Or, with me. That is how he has been able to partially exist. By being born into others."
Ia looked at him confused, "How did he become a separate entity, then?"
Yugi paused for a moment, recalling his vision of the past. It seemed so long ago, now...
"The Mirror."
Ia's eyes sparked in horror. It seemed that these two words were enough to make her understand.
"The Mirror is a dangerous weapon," She began, half in thought. "It can pull out different personalities, and create bodies for them. It deals with anything spiritual, and if you ask it to do something, it usually comes with a price."
Yugi thought about this for a moment, "So... in other words, if I want it to reunite Oni to myself, then I-"
"Have to give it something in return, yes." she murmured.
Yugi nodded, then in a haze of grief added, "And I assume it won't be able to bring spirits back to life,"
Ia sighed, "Listen, I know you miss him... he was a very kind person. I know, because I was sent by Oni to watch his movements. I was supposed to guide him into this trap since the moment he stepped foot into this castle, but, I can assure you that having Yami's spirit leave us was completely out of the plan."
Yugi narrowed his eyes a little, "And what does this have to do with the Mirror?"
"My point, I guess," she answered, "Is that Oni knows everything there is to know about the Mirror, so if he had planned to have Yami... well... He would have spoke of a plan to bring him back via the Mirror. But he didn't.
"I asked if he would bring my brother back, and I'd do anything he'd say... but even then he said it wouldn't be possible. So he decided to do something trivial for me since there wasn't much else he could do..."
"And that was to make you pretty." Yugi snorted, "Pity, really. You already had so much, and yet you decided to throw it away anyway when he didn't even do anything for you in the first place. If I had come here sooner, I probably would have been able to save you from that mistake..."
Ia shook her head, "Better me than anyone else... he would have found someone else if I had walked away... either that or he would have killed me. It wouldn't have made a difference."
Yugi winced when Ia had said the death-related word. Ia didn't seem to notice though, because she kept rambling on.
"Anyway Yugi, the Mirror isn't something that you'd want to mess with. I know that Mira and Sora have already done that in order to bring forth Oni, but not without cost. I don't know what they gave for the exchange, but I'm sure it was very important to the both of them."
Yugi nodded slowly, "So... in order to have Oni put back into me-"
"I wouldn't even consider it, Yugi," Ia interrupted, "And I can give you two very good reasons."
Yugi blinked, gesturing her to go on.
"For one, you're just fine without him, in fact, better without him. Secondly, if he goes back into you, theres absolutely no guarantee that he won't take you over. And if that happens, you'll be lost forever. I'm sure that Yami wouldn't want that..."
Yugi visibly winced, causing Ia to notice this time.
"Sorry, Yugi... but I'm trying to be brutally honest-"
"You've got the 'brutally' part right..."
Ia sighed sorrowfully. "Look Yugi, I don't know what else to tell you... I don't think it would be a good idea to have Oni stay alive... And I know that you're going to try the Mirror for Yami's sake... but I'm telling you now, don't. It's too dangerous, and it won't work anyway."
"You don't know that," Yugi said in a small voice.
Ia stood then, and picked him off the ground like a toddler. Yugi was annoyed by this, but he was too weak to resist, so he took to putting his head on her shoulder. In a strange way, Ia was starting to feel more like a mother to him than anything else. His own mother had never really been around in the first place, and his father had abandoned the both of them long before he was able to make choices of his own. He had grown up with his grandfather, and he was taught with his grandfather's knowledge. But even that wasn't enough. He needed a mother's word, a mother's kindness... something he had never really received.
And he had a feeling that Ia already took that role; purposefully, he might add.
"We're going to see where the others are," Ia said, making her way down another long set of tunnels.
Yugi rolled his eyes. He had no idea why Ia would find underground so comfortable. She had said that she had been offered a room in the castle at least several times, but she had denied each time, taking to living underground, where soon after, she had run into Oni.
"They won't help me," Yugi commented with a sour face, "They'll only make me feel worse by telling me how sorry they are for me... or they'll just be in tears, trying to share my grief."
Ia sighed, "Yugi, they're your friends... and besides, weren't they Yami's friends, too?"
Yugi nodded, "Yeah... but... I guess I'm afraid that they'll blame me..."
Ia stopped mid-stride. "Is that... what you really think?" She asked, seeming a little surprised.
Yugi blinked, "...Yes..."
Ia set Yugi down, and got on her knees in order to be level with him. She held a sorrowful, curious look. "Why would you think that? You were the one who saved everyone..."
Yugi looked away from Ia's gaze, choosing instead, to look at the stone wall next to them, "If I had realized sooner...-"
Ia grabbed his shoulders so fiercely that Yugi jumped.
She looked into his eyes with a fiery look, "Don't say that, Yugi. This is in no way your fault. There was no way you could have known any of this was going to happen. I certainly didn't. And nobody else did either, not even Oni! Yugi, Yami isn't just important to you, he was important to all of your friends, too. He was a role model, and a good friend.
"I didn't know him, I only watched him. And from what I saw, I wanted to go back in time and change my decision, just so that I could be friends with him. And you, Yugi. You two had something that I didn't even know existed until you showed up."
Ia started to shake, but Yugi took all of her words in with a blank stare, "And you should be grateful, Yugi, to have even known him at all. But don't think you're the only one suffering here. All of us are."
Yugi turned away from her, trying to take in and sort everything she had said. Ia, however, didn't see it that way. Ia grabbed him again, and threw him over her shoulder; he let out a startled yelp, but she ignored it. Again, he couldn't do much anyway. He was as much powerless as he was useless.
XXX
"Yugi!" Tea, Tristan, and Joey all shouted.
When Yugi was let down by Ia, he had sat on the cold, tile ground. He stared up at them blankly as they raced towards him. He had taken in his surroundings while Ia had carried him up the steps to the main floor of the castle. He wasn't exactly thrilled to see his friends, though, any other day he would have. But now was not the time. The very presence of his friends just made it harder for him to move on from recent events. He'd rather not think about it. He wanted to get over this, and by having his friends by him, reminding him of a fallen friend, was not something he wanted.
When Ia had set him down, he recognized it to be Sora's room. The room in which he had first stayed. Tea, Joey, Tristan, Sora, Mira, and everyone else were there.
However, when they had both entered, Tea and the other two were the first to react, flinging themselves on top of him.
Tea was the first to reach him, pulling him into a tight hug. She still had traces of tears lining her cheeks, but she was putting on a brave face, no doubt for him. He didn't hug her back though. At this point, he could really care less.
Then Joey and Tristan tackled him. He was pushed over, of course. He didn't resist this time, however. He let his head slam against the cold tile floor, not really caring if his friends gave him a concussion or not.
They did, however, seem to notice what they did, for they quickly got off of him, and helped him sit up. Tea had lectured them briefly for their behavior, to which they apologized again and again both to her and to him. Again, Yugi didn't really care. All he wanted to do was think of ways to end all of this, while bringing Yami back. But there wasn't a way, was there. Ia had told him this. The only way possible to have gotten him back wasn't as possible as he would have liked it to be. It might be a life for a life exchange, which was both risky as well as stupid. He didn't want to sacrifice anyone. He couldn't do it. He didn't want to lose anyone else.
While he was lost in thought, he had drowned out everyone else's pity for him, and wishes to feel better. He had taken all of it in while thinking, but he wasn't really paying attention. He wasn't going to feel better any time soon though, because of Yami...
"Yugi, are you listening?" Ia said, patting his back.
Yugi blinked, looking up at her from his place on the floor. She was directly behind him, so he didn't have to turn around, but look up.
"Yugi, your friends are going to go back, now." she whispered.
Yugi blinked in confusion. "What? Go back where?"
"Home, Yugi,"
"Oh..."
Yugi looked down into his lap, fighting the tears that threatened to overtake him. So, that was it, then. They were going to leave, and forget about what had happened. Return to their lives back in their time without a second thought of Yami? That wasn't how it was supposed to work. There had to be some way... some way to get him back...
"Are you going to come with us, Yugi?" Ryou piped up.
While Yugi had had his conversation with Ia and himself, he hadn't noticed that everyone was bunched up at the door now, waiting for him and Ia to join them. Kaiba, Ryou, Ishizu, Mariku, Bakura and Marik... and everyone else. They were all waiting for him.
All except one, he noticed, that had been sitting in the corner the whole time. He hadn't even noticed the person's presence until now, and he was pretty sure that no one else realized it either. His hard exterior softened a little, to one more of an understanding kind of pain.
Without a second thought, or glance at the others, he crawled over to the corner where the person lay. Mia. Mia had been curled up into a ball as small as she could get, and had silent fits of emotional pain. Mia had been close to Yami, always hanging around him... he didn't blame her for feeling this way, especially someone her age.
He didn't say anything; and she seemed to know who was there. He sat on his knees, and held open his arms a little with a sad look on his face that he couldn't wipe away no matter how hard he tried. Slowly, without looking at him, Mia uncurled herself from her place, and inched over to him, laying on him.
Again, he didn't say anything, but smoothed her hair down a little. As he did so, she wasn't silent any longer. She began sobbing, and murmuring both to him, and to herself.
When he swiveled his head back to look at everyone else, they had just been staring at him the whole time. A few were shocked by what they had seen, but Ia wasn't. She slowly made her way over to them, and sat beside them.
"Mia..." Ia whispered.
Mia visibly winced, and Ia didn't say anything more. She merely closed her eyes in acceptance, and took to patting her back. Even that didn't last long, however, as Mia had shifted away from Ia, and more towards Yugi's embrace. Yugi had found it a little odd since Mia seemed to know Ia more than she knew him, but he guessed it was because he resembled Yami so much... yet another set back he would have to get over every time he looked in a mirror.
Was he really prepared to accept Yami's death? And if he did... he would have to go on with looking into a mirror and seeing Yami... he knew he wouldn't ever stop thinking about him. After all, who would, when something so bazaar, and unique happened to you? Probably the only thing interesting in your life?
"He's gone..." Mia finally spoke, in a hoarse whisper. Yugi didn't reply, choosing not to accept her words. He knew there had to be some way to get him back... but he just wasn't sure yet.
Mia stopped crying, sniffling. "I know what you want to do, Yugi," she replied almost as though she was reading his thoughts.
"And... what is that?" He asked.
"I have an idea..." she began, "It's... a little risky..."
Yugi became more alert, paying attention to every word as she spoke.
"Yugi, We'll wait for you on the other side," Joey said hurriedly. Tristan and Tea nodded in agreement. Ryou as well.
"I can't... take much more of this place," Ishizu added to Joey's comment.
"I can't... because of the memories... of Yami." Tea said slowly but firmly.
It seemed like everyone was in a hurry to leave. And it was as if they were ready to leave Yugi, as well. As if he were a reminder for all of them of Yami. He wouldn't deny that.
Ia was still seated beside him, but he payed no attention to her. He had assumed she would stay here since she already lived here.
"Fine, you go then," Yugi said, trying to prevent the hurt from showing in his voice.
"Ok... we'll meet you on the other side." Bakura said, trying to end the awkwardness.
Both Bakura and Mariku then began to usher everyone outside the door to the room, and began their way down the hallway.
"How... will they get out?" Yugi asked.
"Mira and Sora are waiting by the portal door," Ia said.
Yugi's head snapped to attention, "What?"
Ia rolled her eyes, "Oni was put back in the Mirror. He isn't gone, but his power has increasingly diminished. And ever since your whirlwind outburst, you've completely outmatched everything Oni could have put forth in energy. With this fact, Sora and Mira can finally be themselves without being overwhelmed by their other spirits."
Yugi narrowed his eyes at her, "You seem to know a lot about this..."
"Yes," Ia answered, "Oni told me everything that was going on so that I wouldn't get confused if something were to happen."
"...Oh."
"Yugi..." Mia tugged at his shirt, looking up into his eyes with a tired, sad look.
Yugi looked down at her, waiting for her to go on.
"You want me to take you to the Mirror... and get Sora and Mira. That's what you want, isn't it."
Yugi raised an eyebrow in confusion. In no way had he had such thoughts, but... then again...
Yugi's eyes lit up, "Yes," he immediately responded.
Mia seemed to sense Yugi's sudden burst of energy, because she scrambled off of him. He quickly stood on his feet, looking down on both Ia and Mia. "Actually Mia, I'd like you to take me to the Mirror, and I want Ia to get Sora and Mira and bring them back here."
Mia's eyes seemed to light up to, "I know what you're doing!" she squealed.
Her eyes seemed to light up a bit, "I know! I know! I know!" she got up and jumped in circles. "I know your plan! I know what you're going to do! I don't know why I didn't think of that before!"
Yugi smiled, finally feeling a flutter of hope in his chest. If he put what Mia was thinking, with what Ia had said to him earlier... things might just fall into place. He might be able to do it. He might be able to put everything back into place with a little swap.
"Ia, please go and get them, and bring them back here." Yugi ordered.
Ia stood, a little uncertain of what was going on, but when she saw the urgency in both Yugi and Mia's eyes, she quickly nodded and raced off.
With only a glance at Mia, and a quick exchange of eye contact, it didn't take long for the both of them to turn and race out the door closely behind Ia, but turning a different direction.
The sprint, seemed to take forever as they twisted down the short hallways that seemed to stretch on forever. The way that Mia was taking seemed familiar, as he had taken this exact route before.
Not long later, Mia stopped in the middle of the hallway, causing Yugi to almost bump into her. He had recognized the area. They were right by the Wayther's room, when he first stumbled upon Ryou and the others... and then his first run in with Oni.
"Here," Mia said, gesturing to the room on the other side of the hallway. It was opposite of the Wayther's room. Odd, he didn't recall a door being there... or looking like that.
Mia paused, one tiny hand on the door knob. She looked back at Yugi, a scared look on her face.
She didn't have to say anything more, because he placed his hand on top of hers, and they opened the scary door together.
Once they got a look inside, it was quite creepy. It was pitch black in the room, and the only light they saw emanated from the Mirror. Yugi didn't have to look twice to know that this was the Mirror. He recognized it from his vision... but not only that, but it was the same room he had been in when Sora's evil spirit seemed to see him in his vision... He would never forget that. One minute he's invisible to everyone and everything, having an out of body experience, and then all of the sudden he's visible to the most powerful, evil spirits.
"Yugi?" Mia asked, her voice shaking a little.
"Yes?" He answered.
"Can I wait outside while you get the Mirror? this room... is too much for me to handle." she whispered.
Yugi nodded, grabbing Mia's small hand, and guiding her out of the room, so that she was behind him.
He looked tentative into the room, looking from side to side. He took in a ragged breath before proceeding further. He heard Mia's breath quicken as he slid in. He looked back at her warily, before turning back around, not sparing her another look as he pushed on into the new darkness.
"Be careful!" Mia said, shouting softly.
He nodded, still not looking back at her.
As he stepped carefully across the wooden floor, he was careful enough to not break or bump into anything for fear of something bad happening.
It all seemed like a good idea at first, getting the Mirror, but was it really? What could be accomplished by taking the Mirror? Was Oni even inside it?
He tripped. Exactly what he was afraid of.
When he looked down, he couldn't tell what it was, but he didn't care to find out. From the feel, it was big, and clearly hard to move, for it didn't budge an inch when Yugi tripped over it.
Yugi growled in annoyance from having to rely on a nearby table for support. Ever since Yami had gone, Yugi kept beating himself up, trying to be stronger... for Yami, and for himself.
He had always relied on Yami, but now that the spirit could no longer do that, Yugi had to make himself strong, if not forcefully. Truth was, he wasn't ready to be parted; there was still so much left that he didn't know how to deal with, and focus on.
Yugi gritted his teeth; he had gained pain in his foot, and having it shoot up his leg didn't help either. Mia, apparently, had sensed his pain, and whimpered for him.
"Don't worry Mia, I'll be fine,"
Mia didn't respond, but he took her silence as confirmation that she had heard him. He pushed himself up then, trying to balance most of his weight on one foot.
He wanted to turn on the light so he could see,, but the more time he spent in this cold, dark room, the more he felt he may be in danger.
He hobbled as fast and as carefully as he could, over to the Mirror. The Mirror was lighter than he thought it would be a lot smaller, as he picked it up, but he was glad that he didn't have to balance even more weight.
"You got it?" Mia called out.
"Yeah," Yugi responded.
"Hurry up then. I can sense that Ia has Sora and Mira."
"I'm trying, just give me a second,"
"We don't have seconds to give, Yugi! I sense that Sora and Mira's spirits are becoming agitated, and Ia might be in danger!"
"I'm trying!" Yugi shouted.
He practically started running and, to his frustration and shock, he tripped. Again. Over the same thing. This time, he had nothing in front of him to catch his fall.
His heart sped up as he realized that the only thing that may allow Yami to come back to life, might shatter and break, and that too, would be his fault.
"No!" he unconsciously shouted.
His hold on the Mirror loosened, and the Mirror flew towards the wall at amazing speed as Yugi fell.
As he hit the ground, his hand shot out towards the object that suddenly held so much importance. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the crash, and shattering glass.
Nothing happened. Only the worried breathing of both himself and Mia.
"What...?" Mia started, trailing off.
Yugi immediately opened his eyes.
The Mirror was no longer in danger, but lay fully intact and propped against the wall.
He looked at Mia, but she wasn't looking at the Mirror, like he thought she would be; but she was staring at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You... just now I..."
Yugi waited for her to piece together a full sentence.
"Yugi, I sensed such a... amazing amount of... spiritual power from you. I've never met or heard of someone more powerful than me before."
Yugi stood then, his pain momentarily forgotten as he gave her a questioning look.
Mia looked away, avoiding his gaze.
"What do you mean, Mia? your spiritual power and... mine?"
"I didn't... I mean... your power is amazing. Stronger than mine, even. I grew up training to be on top, and where I lived, no one had surpassed me in years..."
"Years, Mia?" Yugi questioned, "Aren't you like, five?"
Mia sighed irritably, "Yes and no... I've been alive for Millennia, but my body... It has been stuck in the form of a five year old."
Yugi raised an eyebrow "So, when you cry or throw a fit...?"
Mia rolled her eyes, "Five year old body, five year old tenancies. I'm more emotional when I'm too involved or attached to something."
"Oh..."
Mia shook her head then, "Grab the Mirror," she instructed.
He nodded, suddenly remembering the situation, and their plan.
"But," she added, pausing the both of them, "Try using your power... I want to see you use it again."
Yugi blinked, "Uh... I don't...know how..."
Mia looked back, taking her turn to be confused, "How do you not know how to use it when you just showed me you could?"
Yugi blinked again, "Um... I don't... I mean, I guess I had an instinct or something."
"Well, have an instinct to move it. Make it even on the wall..."
Yugi shook his head, "I can't just do that. I don't know how, Mia."
She sighed, "Well... try this. Imagine the Mirror floating and following you. If you keep doing that, then maybe it might be easier for you to handle..."
"No... I don't think that this would help..."
"How so? Don't you think that imagination might help you accomplish this task?"
Yugi rolled his eyes and turned away. It didn't make sense, and he was so confused. How could he possibly lose the only person that seemed to matter to him, and then suddenly gain these powers that he didn't have before?
"Why do I have these powers?" He asked suddenly, his face following suit into his downcast thoughts, "I didn't want them, nor do I need them. I'd trade my powers for Yami in an instant..."
Mia walked over to him then, and hugged his waist, burying her face into his clothing as she did so, trying to prevent the sadness from surfacing, "I miss him, too..." she murmured.
For a moment, just one moment, Yugi couldn't feel anything. He wasn't sad nor angry, happy nor scared, nothing. He simply felt no need to do anything, except one thing. Right now Mia was hugging him, trying to draw comfort, and it was something he knew he could give.
He embraced her small body, and held her close, kneeling both of them on the ground so that they could both comfort each other. He hadn't realized until Mia had shifted her hug from his waist to his neck, that he needed this hug more than she did.
Right now he was so lost and alone, as well as frightened for himself. He had pushed himself too far, and almost broke, but now that Mia had actually said she missed Yami, instead of just being sad, he realized that he didn't have to be Yami. If he were to turn into Yami, or act more like him, it would take away the whole meaning of him as an individual. His life wouldn't serve any purpose, because how could the world have two of the same people in it? Life didn't work out that way. It was part of the life and death cycle. As much as Yugi wanted to be more like Yami, no one could ever replace him, and he wasn't up for trying to be like him any longer.
Yugi couldn't help but shake a little as he continued his hug with Mia. The world seemed to stop, as if the comfort he was trying to give her was instead being given to him, fueling his energy and peace of mind.
True, it wasn't fair to have Yami ripped away from him like that, especially when all Yami was trying to do was help him. But still, the thought was all wrong. It didn't seem like the correct time or place for his death. If Yugi had felt that it had been his time, then he would have to accept it, but it just didn't feel right.
He let go of Mia, thankful that they both drew strength and comfort from each other.
Mia looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise. Yugi didn't care why, he had a job to do now, and he intended to go through with his plan.
"Come on," He murmured, "We don't have time to stand around here all day,"
"Yes, you're right," Mia agreed, "But the Mirror-"
Yugi didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. He was already sprinting away. He heard Mia's fast-paced footsteps following him, along with a whooshing sound he hadn't expected. With a smirk that was so unlike him, he realized that he had willed the Mirror to follow him. Strange, he hadn't remembered thinking about the Mirror until just now. How odd.
"Slow down, Yugi! Kid legs remember!" Mia called after him. Yugi rolled his eyes, he didn't see how he was going that fast, he never ran too fast.
When he looked behind him, he could tell that Mia was keeping up just fine, along with the Mirror, just like he predicted.
XXX
He arrived back at Sora's room, not surprised at all to find that the two girls had puzzled and wondrous expressions on their faces. Ia, too, had held the same expression, but was surprised nonetheless when Yugi and Mia had showed up, with a floating mirror behind them.
"What the...?" Sora began, but trailed off as Yugi flicked his wrist, and the Mirror came to a rest up against the nearest wall.
"How did...?" Mira said, eyes wide.
Mia shook her head, "Nows not the time for wonderment. If this is to work right, then we're going to need to hurry."
"Hurry?" Ia said, but immediately shook herself and nodded, "Alright, what do we do then?"
Yugi thought for a moment, and looked to Mia for help.
"Well... First we need to get Oni..."
"Oni!?" Sora, Mira, and Ia all exclaimed in horror.
"Yes," Yugi said, "We need him, too."
"We put him back in the Mirror, though..." Sora said, confused.
not going to work. No deal with the Mirror ever works out the way you think it will.""Is there a way to get his attention? And what about making the deal with the Mirror? How does that happen?" Yugi asked.
"Don't do it, Yugi." Ia growled, "I told you that it won't work. I don't know what you're up to, but it's
"I don't care," Yugi snapped, "If it means getting Yami back and ending all this chaos, then by the Gods I'll do it."
Ia sighed with another growl, "I still disagree, Yugi. I know you're trying to be heroic and all, but I still don't see how anything could work."
Yugi turned from her then, finding her of no help, and instead turned to Mira, whom he had only known to be wicked. He hadn't really gotten to know her too well yet, but he was sure that she had all the answers to his questions.
"How do I make a deal with the Mirror?" he asked.
"Well..." Mira thought, "Seeing through my spirit's eyes... I think you're supposed to give it blood to propose a deal..."
"Alright, then what?"
"Then... it'll ask you what you want, then you'll tell, and then I believe you exchange something and then your wish will be granted."
Yugi nodded slowly. Then, believing he should shed some light on the subject, he explained what he was about to do; and, in order to do so, he needed everyone's full cooperation for this to be successful.
"Alright," he started.
Everyone gathered around him, seeming to sense the plan formulating in his mind.
"This is what's going to happen... or what I plan on having happen." He started, "Oni is trapped in the Mirror, so all I need is to either get rid of him or combine him back into my body... and then, I need to get Yami back. I know he's still out there, somewhere... but I don't know how to get him here..."
"What about us?" Sora asked, "What role do we play, if not for the sake of watching and making sure everything goes smoothly?"
Yugi shook his head, "No, that's Ia's job. What I need the two of you to do, is to release yourself and let your spirits take over."
Sora and Mira looked at each other, eyes widening in fear and horror, "Why!?" they asked in unison.
"Because. I plan to do a swap, of sorts..."
"A... swap?" Ia asked, mulling it around in her head.
"Yes, I swap Sora's evil spirit in turn to get rid of Oni, and then I swap Mira's evil spirit in turn to get Yami back."
"Good thought, Yugi. Really, I didn't think of that before..." Ia said, "But, I'm afraid that that might not be enough."
Yugi raised an eyebrow, "How so?"
"The Mirror might not even ask for souls, or for that matter, anything related to taking something away from you. The Mirror is unexpected, and can make any decision it wants."
Yugi thought long and hard about what Ia had said, "So... then, what else would it ask for, if not that?"
"Well... I wouldn't know," Ia said, exasperated, "I'm not the one who began this mess... I've only heard myths!"
"It... might ask for a limb..." Mira began, too quiet to hear, almost.
"My limb?" Yugi said, shocked, "Uh... anything else?"
"I'm not sure... I don't think there's much it would ask for besides other souls and limbs..." Sora stepped in.
Yugi thought for a moment, pondering the possible roads to go down just in case something went wrong.
"Alright. Let's get started. I don't want to put this off any longer." Yugi said.
Mira and Sora nodded, "I hope all of this goes well..."
"It will, I promise. And if you're in danger, you need to stop, and then tell me..." Yugi ordered.
Mira and Sora nodded, then, "Chain us up just in case... we've never tried anything like this before; and, from past experience, Sora's spirit seems like it's the one in charge... and from what I know, very deadly." Mira said, worry clear on her face.
"Very well... Ia-"
"I'm on it."
Ia quickly lead Sora and Mira into the next room. Yugi couldn't see them, but he knew he wouldn't want to, anyway. The mere sight of their souls would surely distract him too much for him to concentrate properly on what he was trying to accomplish.
"Alright," Ia said, once more sweeping into the room, "Let's see... In accordance to what Mira and Sora just now told me..."
She paused, a finger resting against her lips as she thought. "First, we need to lay the Mirror flat on the ground." she instructed.
Yugi wasted no time in grabbing the Mirror, propped up against the wall, and laying it down, flat on the ground.
"What now?" Yugi asked.
"You need to drip your blood onto the damn thing,"she said in a sigh, "Really... if we could just drop the sacrificial, ritual bullshit, that would be nice."
Mia's eyes widened, "Ia... I've never heard that kind of language from you before..."
Ia sighed, suddenly looking very old, "Yes... but sometimes I have to let it out... It'll pass, I promise."
Mia looked a little doubtful, but shifted her attention to Yugi instead. "Alright... I don't have anything sharp... Do you, Ia?" Mia asked.
Ia shook her head, paused, then ran back into the room where she had led Sora and Mira moments earlier. She soon came back, after several minutes and a bunch of noises, with a pair of scissors. She seemed pretty happy that she found them, but once she handed it to Mia, she frowned. She quickly snatched the scissors out of Mia's hands, muttering that 'kids shouldn't be playing with these nowadays' or something or other.
"Best let me do it; I don't think you need a lot anyway, just a drop or two, nothing substantial."
Yugi blinked slowly, then held his arm out to her. He didn't seem to mind; after all, if he could handle bruises and bloody noses from lingering bullies at his school everyday, then what was one simple cut?
He didn't even flinch as Ia pressed into his skin, and dragged one of the blades slowly across his wrist. It wasn't bad; he wouldn't have even considered it a big hole in his wrist at all, it looked like a paper cut that was just bad enough to draw blood.
"Alright, I hope that didn't hurt..." Ia said, taking the scissors away.
"No, not at all," he responded.
Ia grabbed his wrist gently, and guided it over the top of the Mirror, hovering. Yugi was beginning to think that the cut was too shallow for any drips, but he was soon proven wrong when one single, tiny drop landed on the Mirror.
The Mirror rippled from the spot the drop landed on in continuous motions.
"You know what you have to do, don't you?" Ia asked, "I don't know what you plan to do in case it doesn't go exactly as planned, but I hope you have something together."
"I do, at least, a little bit." Yugi said.
"Good luck, Yugi," Mia said.
Yugi leaned down and patted her head reassuringly as Ia had bandaged up the small portion of his wrist. "You'll be alright, Mia. I know it's kind of scary right now, but I promise. No matter what, I will return with Yami, and this whole thing will be over."
Mia let out a shaky breath, showing her fear for him for the first time. "I know... I know you'll be alright. I believe in you, but, I'm not sure Yami will come back..."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well... I don't feel Yami's spirit. At all. If he were trapped somewhere, or stored somewhere... Or even just in spirit, I'd be able to feel him... but he isn't."
"You think that, maybe, he's not here, but... somewhere else? Somewhere else in this time period, maybe a different continent or something?"
Mia thought for a moment, "It's quite possible. If he's out there somewhere, I bet I could find him... but at the same time, he might be somewhere else entirely, like the afterlife, or a special prison cell or something."
Yugi took his bandaged hand from Ia, and grabbed onto Mia's hands with both of his. He looked deep into her eyes, suddenly seeing the wisdom and the real soul buried deep. He felt a type of respect towards her; he somehow knew that her power was unique, even though he hadn't seen it yet. He knew that she would do whatever he asked of her in order to get Yami back. He could see now, that it wasn't just a fondness for the spirit that captured her, but also a hidden respect and faith in the spirit that kept her at his side. He felt that she thought of him as more of a father figure than anything, because she didn't have that growing up; and to suddenly be thrown into a five-year-old body with those types of tenancies, she felt that she was gaining a childhood she had only ever dreamed of. Yami was like a father, a friend, and a brother all wrapped into one. All things she never had in her long life. The feeling coming from Mia, when thinking of Yami, was so immense that he had to pull away.
Did I... just analyze her whole perspective of Yami? and how? by... holding her hands? or was it because I was thinking about Yami, and wondered what she thought on the matter...?
"You..." Mia said, gasping a little.
Yugi broke eye contact with Mia, and stood up. "I... I think I just did that..."
Mia nodded stiffly, "Well... I felt you do it. But, you do realize that you were giving me strength as well, don't you?"
Yugi blinked in surprise, "I... did?"
Mia nodded slowly, "And you surfaced deep feelings that I've been pushing away... But you didn't know that, did you?"
Yugi shook his head, "Is there anything else that I did?"
Mia nodded, "You restored my determination to help get Yami back."
Yugi turned from her then, "Alright. But, I think I did something that surprised me."
Mia raised an eyebrow, "What did you do?"
"Well... I have a feeling that whatever I think of or wonder about, when I'm in contact with someone, I get the answer..."
"Am I correct in assuming that this is just a theory?" Mia asked.
"Yes, but you must understand that, when I was holding your hands, I had briefly wondered what type of power you had..."
"And..."
"And I know that you can go anywhere you want in a blink of an eye, but you have to stay in the same time frame- you can't skip to one hundred years in the future unless you're pulled in by some unknown force..."
"And?"
"And that... you can manipulate space, change things in accordance to your will, and you can even bring someone back from the dead if you wished."
Ia stepped in, then. She had her eyes raised, and looked questioningly at the both of them. "I have no idea what you two are going on about, but, Mia," she turned towards Mia, "Is this true? What... what he says?"
There was a tremor in her voice, that much was clear. Silence passed between the two, and it stretched on for much longer than he would have liked.
"Tell me the truth, please," Ia plead in a whisper. "Tell me that he got something mixed up..."
Mia sighed, "Ia, you are my sister, so lying to you is out of the question," she murmured, "So, it's true. Every word of it,"
Ia took a step back from her, "So... are you saying that, there was more to your power that you let on?"
"Yes."
"So, you could have saved him... our brother..."
Mia shivered, "Don't torture me with that, Ia. You know just as well as I, that saving him was out of the question. And, besides, I was too young."
Ia flexed her hands at her sides, her breath becoming more ragged as time passed. "Yes, I suppose you were right. You were too young to do anything about our brother... but still, there was no reason why he couldn't be saved..."
Mia reached out a hand, almost touching Ia, but not quite. "Even at my young age, I understood why. Brother couldn't be saved because it was his fate. Remember, we were told so... and imagine what life would be like today, if he had lived."
Ia visibly winced, "Doesn't change the fact that he didn't deserve it..."
Mia nodded, "He didn't, but when that lady showed up, you knew full well that it was his time. His wounds... were not reversible, either. Even if we tried our best to save him, it wouldn't have made a difference."
Ia sighed, "You're right, Mia, I'm sorry..."
Mia smiled slightly, still a sad glint in her eye. "That's-"
"Yugi? Mia and Ia?" a voice came from the doorway.
Yugi spun around and towards the door; he was careful not to knock the Mirror as he did so.
His face paled, "King Oren... Queen Izumi..."
Mia and Ia both turned as well, shocked and a little worried.
King Oren and Queen Izumi were both standing in the doorway, looking curiously over the three of them. Little did they realize that their two daughters were just next door, ready to release their violent spirits on Ia's command.
King Oren's gaze swept to the floor, where he saw the Mirror in perfect condition, and shining with a type of bright light that any of them had yet to notice.
"You three should probably prepare yourselves for what comes next," He said, his voice scruffy as he sounded older than he looked.
"Dears, come over here, now if you will..." Queen Izumi ordered.
Mia and Ia, both knowing that it was against the law to disobey the queen, made their way over to the King and Queen, and allowed both the Queen and King to place on hand on Ia's shoulder and one on Mia's.
Yugi looked at them with an eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Boy, you best be careful. I know who you are, and you're in for quite a shock, so best sit down before you hurt yourself." The King said.
Yugi wasted no time in plopping down on the floor, and spun around to look at the Mirror.
"Careful now," the King said, "Don't worry, I know you're Yugi and not that spirit. That spirit of yours, Yami, saved us all." He looked at his wife briefly, then nodded at her to continue.
"Yugi, dear, the King and I have powers to. I have the power of Prediction, and my husband has the power of Knowledge and Alteration.
Yugi spun around again, looking at the both of them.
"Knowledge, Alteration, and Prediction. How well those three go together..." Yugi said.
"Indeed," the King nodded, "From now on I'd like you to address me as Oren, and my wife as Izumi, if you wouldn't mind."
"Of course,"
"Now," Oren went on, "I want you to assume that I know all your secrets, because I do. I already know your plan, but I have yet to explain this to Izumi. However, she has explained to me that I must tell you what-"
"No," Izumi cut in, "Not now. Not yet. He must find out that part himself. Oren, dear, we came to get Ia and Mia, and tell Sora and Mira that it is time. That is all. We must leave within three minutes."
Oren, surprisingly ok with being cut off like he was, nodded. "I will go see to it, then. I will be back."
Izumi nodded, placing both hands on both girl's shoulders as her husband moved to the bedroom, where Sora and Mira were.
"It is also you that saved us, Yugi Muto, and I must thank you for that." she murmured to him.
Yugi nodded, but before he could get a word out, she continued.
"You have know that you musn't give him what he wants. Don't offer anything to him, or exchange anything with him. Just get information, and leave. You have the power to do so yourself, and no matter what, remember that you're the one in control. Don't let him freak you out, or draw out any pity that you have. Remain strong, and if you do this, you will get all that you need."
"Alright, it is done," Oren said, then, "Let us be on our way."
Queen Izumi nodded, and moved to let her husband pass, "And, good luck," she added to Yugi. She gave him a wink and a little smile before she made her way out the door, following Mia, Ia, and her husband close behind.
Yugi sat there for a moment longer, thoughts reeling through his head as he tried to sort out everything that just happened. The Queen and King had powers. Queen Izumi had the power of Prediction, to which she just showed, cautioning about someone. King Oren had the power of Knowledge and Alteration, which he assumed Oren was trying to tell him something, and the Queen had to stop him. Alteration... Alteration would have to be the fact that he could change the future... Ateration and Prediction go hand in hand, and Yugi couldn't help but assuming that the Queen and King were paired together for their power, and soon after had fallen in love. Something along those lines, he couldn't be certain.
So far, everyone here had powers. Everyone in this castle anyway. Since he had powers did this mean that he might be related to these people? Technically, it could be possible. Queen Izumi had the purple eyes... but that didn't mean that was a link. Anyone could have purple eyes as far as he was concerned. King Oren had green eyes, which would make sense since Sora and Mira both had green eyes.
Shiro and Miki... and Kali. Kali was the only one he knew so far that didn't really have a power to begin with. Or did she? He knew that Shiro and Mikki had powers, so it would be very likely that Kali should have a power too. And, according to his theory of powers only being in the family of this castle, then this would fit. Miki, Shiro and Kali, if he remembered correctly, were cousins with Sora and Mira, making the three of them nieces and nephews of the King and Queen themselves.
Yugi nodded to himself, seeing how everything pieced together. But two things kept nagging at him. Yugi was Yami's reincarnation, and if Yugi was related to this family, then Yami was too. Was it that the Queen and King wanted to help them out because of their relation, or was it because they wanted to? And the words that the Queen spoke made it all the more confusing.
She said something about being strong, and not giving him what he wants... was she referring to the Mirror? The spirit in the Mirror? or was it meant for a different situation all together?
He sighed irritably. Even though he knew some things now, it surfaced other questions. It was almost as if this whole situation was meant to happen. As if he was supposed to get something out of it.
Prepare yourself, came a voice in his head, You must be brave and let it take you over so that you don't suffer too long.
Yugi stood up, and looked around. No one was there. He blinked several times in confusion.
The doorway, Yugi, look at me...
Yugi looked at the doorway, and was shocked to find Kali there. "Kali?"
I am here to help you, Kali said. No, she didn't say it, she thought it. Her lips hadn't moved.
"What-"
Queen Izumi sent me, Yugi. She said that it was time. We all are preparing to help you make this journey, because it will be tough.
"I... I don't understand, Kali." Yugi said, getting more and more confused with each passing second.
There was a crack behind him, and he went rigid.
Don't look back, Yugi. Don't. Kali urged, You can't see it yet. It's not time yet. You will see it later, but for now, don't look back no matter how much you want to.
Yugi nodded. He could feel his instincts that urged him to look, to see what it was that was lurking behind him. His instincts told him to run. To run and drag Kali with him to safety, but he stayed put. He kept his eyes trained on Kali.
Kali looked at him, then opened her mouth. He thought it was to talk, but he could see how wrong he was. How utterly wrong he was, and how much he wished he wasn't there in that room.
Kali screamed. It was blood-curdling. He couldn't hear anything else, and from the look on her face, it looked like she was screaming on purpose. Was she trying to kill him?
Then another mystery clicked. The time he had come face to face with Oni, he had heard a scream. And this time, he knew that it was the same scream.
He knew what was going to happen now. He was going to fall unconscious, and he would be at the complete mercy of the being behind him, and Kali.
Through Kali's screams, he heard her voice in his head, though it was faint, it was still clear. I do this to protect you. It is my job, as a Protector.
He dropped to his knees, still facing her, as she had asked.
Give into it, please, it will hurt a lot less if you don't fight it...
"How... can I?"
She was starting to cry a little, he could tell. I'm not supposed to hurt you, so it would be easier for me if you gave in so that I can get on with protecting you.
"And... you call knocking me unconscious... protecting..." He managed to get out. As soon as the words left his mouth, he gave in to the darkness, just like she had said to, letting himself trust her, against his panicked instincts.
XXX
When he finally did come to, he was very weirded out, and confused, by the fact that he was home. He was tucked into his own bed, in his own home. And he was safe. The Millennium Puzzle gleamed on the table by his bed, and as he peered into it, he sensed a presence.
Yami's presence.
It comforted him a little. Was it all just a dream? It had felt so real...
"Pharaoh...?" He asked, flipping over to face table.
When no answer came, he begun to feel worried. Did something happen? was he knocked unconscious? If he was, then what had happened to Yami? If this wasn't a dream, then why was he feeling that everything was ok?
He threw the covers back, and got up. He was in his usual pajamas, which didn't surprise him at all. He grabbed the Millennium Puzzle, and looked into it, hoping to get some sort of answer to all of this.
He felt a tug, suddenly. Another thought crossed his mind, then. If he was actually knocked unconscious by Kali, then that would mean that this isn't real. He still had his powers.
He knew with absolute certainty, that this was the real thing. The real Millennium Puzzle. He held on to it, and closed his eyes. Maybe, if everything so far that had happened, was real, then it was time to test that theory. The only way to do that, as far as he knew, was to try using his powers.
He focused on the Millennium Puzzle, and buried deep in it, was Yami's spirit. He reached out for it with his mind, imagining a hand grasping Yami's.
Once he felt his mind click, and his hand slide into Yami's, a rush of thoughts came bursting through. It was almost more than Yugi could bear, but he refused to let go. The whispers of Yami's voice at different times, all coming together at once, making absolutely no sense to him what so ever. Some thoughts even repeated themselves.
I had to do it, it was the only way. Yugi! No! You're an evil man you know; you will never get away with it. I must go. I had to do it, it was the only way. Finding his strength, he will deliver us from this darkness. I was of this bloodline as well, but I only discovered the power too late. It was in my hands! The universe is in great danger, and the key slipped out of my hands. I had to do it, it was the only way. It's up to Yugi now. Yugi! No! Save me, save him, save everyone! No, don't listen! Don't listen, resist! He's messing with our mind! I had to do it, it was the only way. Mia, it'll be alright. Yugi! No! he'll deliver us all from this darkness. He will save us all. Just you watch, you won't win. Yugi, come on, you can do it; I believe in you! Follow me, follow me into the darkness. I see what I must do, if he doesn't realize his power it'll be too late! ...the key slipped out of my hands... I had to do it, it was the only way. I had to do it... I must go... great danger... save him! Mia, it'll be alright. Yugi! No! ...Don't listen, resist!
Yugi couldn't take it anymore. His voice, so panicked like it was through all these different thoughts, made Yugi let go. It made Yugi need to let go. He slipped out of the puzzle, and found himself sitting on the bed.
"I will save you, no matter what! I don't care if you're dead, I'll find you. I promise," He squeezed his eyes shut, willing Yami to hear his words, "I'll find you, your time here isn't up quite yet, and I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back and finish the journey you started with me."
Yugi flopped back onto the bed, not caring anymore whether this was a dream or reality. "I will find you, and I will bring you back, just you wait."
Yami's POV
It's Yugi... I hear his voice... Yes, I'll wait. I knew that you'd come for me. But, by the gods, I'll remain here for millennia if it means you'll stay safe. Get me, but do it safely.
Yugi, I'll wait for you, always. Come find me, where ever I am. I promise, I'll always be waiting for you.
XXX
OHMYGAD Sorry, no excuse this time. I've been working on this chapter for too long, and I find myself only writing when I get inspiration. Ah well, just know that I'll always finish each story I write, and know that I'm working on every single one of them right now.
Sorry for the wait. It also looks like this will be another chapter or two... but there will be an epilogue, I promise.
If you have any other ideas for one-shots or other stories you want me to make, leave a review or just PM me :) Thank you for sticking with me this far!
