A Yugi/Yami story
Through a Dragon's Eye
Chapter 3-The Best Kind of Reflection
For a long time neither boy could say a single word. I think they both lost the ability to speak. They stared at each other, as though they were blind just seeing the world for the first time. Finally after what felt like an eternity Yami was able to speak.
"Yu… Yugi?" he croaked out.
Yugi nodded. Throat too tight to speak he was finally able to choke out one word, "Yami?"
Yami nodded, he felt light headed as he did, and it was him. The boy he saw in that dream, the boy Yugi that he helped to get up, and held his hand. The person who had help to warm his heart…
Yugi reached over and took a hold of Yami's hand. Was it really him? The boy that had helped him up from that freaky dream and made him feel safe… was it really him? Or was this another dream?
Yami didn't shy away from Yugi's touch, he certainly felt real enough, "Is it really, you?" he asked quietly. "Are you real?"
For a second Yami didn't say anything for a second, but then, "Yes, are you?"
Yugi nodded. "I take it, that the dream last night… wasn't just a dream?"
"I think it's safe to say, yes," replied Yami. He still couldn't believe that Yugi was real; but did they really meet before? It couldn't have been just a coincidence. Then suddenly something came into his mind.
"What did you do?" he asked Yugi, seriously. "Some men have been chasing me all over the village, thinking I was you."
"What did I do?!" yelped Yugi. "I didn't do anything. I just got to this village last night, and I was just shopping in the market when some men started chasing me. I thought that you might have done something and they thought that I was you."
Now Yami was really confused. "That's exactly what happened to me," he said. "But if I didn't do anything, and you didn't do anything then… why are these guys coming after us?"
But before Yugi could as much as shrug, they hear it. "I FOUND THEM!"
"GET THEM BOTH!"
Both boys whipped around and saw the men from the market coming towards them.
Yugi turned back to Yami and said, "You want to finish this later?" he asked.
"Yes, talk later, run now."
And they were off. Suddenly, two boys who didn't really belong anywhere, where both running side by side, away from the men of the village and trying to escape with their hides still intact. The still had no idea why they were even chasing them; as far as they were knew, they didn't do anything to cause all this. But they didn't stop to talk about it.
Both boys ran together, until finally they ran straight out of the village and along the dirt road as far away as they could go. Finally when they felt that they were far enough away from the village they both collapsed on the ground, not moving, just trying to catch their breath.
After a while they both finally had a chance to rest, and catch the air that they needed; but their legs were shaky, and felt as though they were beaten with clubs. But Yami was able to look up and see where they were.
They ran a far enough way from the village, so far in fact, that they could barely see it anymore. The men had just disappeared, and they were both alone on top of some hill, Yami turned to look at Yugi who was still trying to get his heart rate down to normal.
"It's ok, Yugi," gasped Yami. "We're safe now.. Those grown-ups are gone." But he realized that they couldn't stay here, it was far too dangerous. He learned the hard way that there were animals and beasts that roamed around these parts. They had to get away from here to someplace safer.
Yami looked around them, trying to find something to use as shelter… nothing. "Yugi," he said urgently. "We have to get away from here." He got up, which was a huge effort, in and of itself. He put his hands on Yugi's shoulders, trying to help him up, "Its, not safe here," he said.
Yugi groaned when he got up to his feet, "Can we walk? I don't want to run ever again," he said holding onto Yami. Yami smiled as he held him up, "Me neither."
He help Yugi walk as they made their way north, and for a while neither one said anything, until Yugi couldn't take the quiet any longer and asked, "So, what happened to those guys from the village?"
Yami urged Yugi onward before answering, "They just disappeared. I looked, but I couldn't see them anywhere." He could feel Yugi shutter, "What's wrong?" he asked.
"It's just that people keep disappearing on me lately," Yugi replied.
"What?" asked Yami.
"Well, it's kinda a long story," said Yugi.
"Well, we got time. I'll love to hear about it," said Yami while they continued walking.
"Well, it all started when I ran away…" He went on for a while, telling Yami everything that had happened yesterday, and what happened today. When he had finished, Yami stared off into the distance.
Yugi was worried that Yami thought about his story. He was worried that Yami thought that he was lying or something, but what he was really worried about was how comfortable he was with Yami. He didn't know the first thing about him, but he had a dream of Yami just last night, and today he met Yami.
This was just too weird… it was then that he was starting to feel something else… something that he never felt before…
"It's just like what happened to me," said a voice right next to him. That voice brought him back to earth.
"What?" said Yugi looking around.
"It's just like what happened to me," repeated Yami. "I met someone who helped me get to the village and then they just vanished." He started to explain to Yugi all about meeting the strange woman and how she just disappeared when they arrived at the village.
What he didn't know was that the two of them were being watched by the very people they were talking about.
The man and the woman were both watching them from a safe distance, near enough to keep a watch on them, but far enough away that the kids couldn't see them.
The women looked at the man as said, "You think that it was a little much? I mean having those men chase them?"
The man shook his head. "I was the only way that we could get them together without showing ourselves," he said. "Besides, we can only keep a watch on them for a little longer. After tonight, we can't help them anymore."
The woman nodded, "But, you think we can at least give them a safe place to rest 'til tomorrow?"
The man looked at her and smiled, "You are too nice for your own good," he said shaking his head.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked him narrowing her eyes at him.
He held up his hands, and answered, "I'm just saying that, you're a kind person."
The women looked back at him and said, "Can you blame me? I have to be kind, but tough at the same time. Women are proven to have twice the chance to end up depressed as men are. That's because they have to live with men." The man laughed at that remark.
"That's true," he said. "But whoever you are, it is your friends that make your world."
She smiled. "That's true," she said. "A friend is someone who will reach out for your hand...and can touch your heart. One loyal friend is worth ten thousand servants and you know… I wouldn't trade that person for anything."
He nodded in agreement before turning his attention back to the two, small boys making their way across the fields. He was worried about letting two boys wander around on their own like this… maybe he will help give them a safe place for the night. After tonight, they weren't allowed to help any longer. Watching the two walk away reminded him of years, long forgotten. "Your friends will know you better the first time you meet, than people you know you in a thousand years," he said to himself.
"Just like the way a sibling may not always be your friend, but a friend is always your sibling," said a voice next to him. "What are you thinking about?" she asked him.
"Just thinking about how lucky I am to know someone who was so hard to say goodbye to," he said looking back at her.
"Oh, aren't you sweet," she said rolling her eyes. "Let's go. They need a safe place for the night. It is the least we can do after having them being chased."
Yami and Yugi continued their long walk along the dirt road together; Yami just finished explaining about the woman who had helped him.
"You see?" he asked Yugi when he had finished. "I just turned around… and she was gone. Vanished in thin air.
"I do see," said Yugi. "Are you sure that's what she said?"
"Yes, she said to me, "An old friend is the best kind of reflection."
"That's exactly what that man said to me, he also said that, "Remember that every good friend was once a stranger." I just never thought he meant that so much," said Yugi looking Yami up and down. It was still strange looking at Yami; it was like looking at a older version of himself.
Yami laughed at that. "Tell, me about it," he said. Yugi looked like a younger version of himself, but that wasn't the only thing that was strange. This feeling… deep inside him… he never felt it before… it was…
"Hey," said Yugi. "Where do you come from?"
Yami stopped walking; he looked down at his feet and didn't answer. "I'm sorry," said Yugi sounding worried. "If you don't want to talk about it, it's totally up to you."
"No," said Yami. "It's just that… sometimes I feel like I'm a stranger to myself. Sometimes I can't believe I'm the same person I always was."
Yugi looked confused so Yami went on, "I mean, a lots happened to me lately, and I've changed a lot since I left home. Sometimes I don't know where to begin."
"Well," said Yugi slowly. "How about the beginning?"
Yami was quiet for a second before he was able to answer. Why he answered Yugi, he didn't know; but somehow, without him realizing it, it felt so natural having Yugi around.
"Well, I lost my mother not long after I was born. At least that's what my father said," said Yami not looking Yugi.
Yugi looked at the ground and muttered, "I'm sorry. But if it makes you feel better, I don't have a mother or father either."
Yami looked up at Yugi quickly. "I lost both of my parents during a plague a few years ago. I've been on my own ever since. I try not to think about it, but sometimes it gets to hard… you know." He looked at Yami in the eye and asked,"Am I talking to much? You know the people from my village were always telling me to be quiet."
"No," said Yami in a quiet voice. "I don't mind if you talk, this is the most I've talked in a long time. Traveling around on your own gets like that."
So Yugi went on about his life in the village and what he would do just to past the day, and everything he had done up to the point when he ran away from home. And Yami explained what he had up too when he ran away, the villages he stopped by, the things and animals he had seen, and everything else he could, but he never told Yugi why he ran off or where he really came from.
They continued talking up a storm, while they walked on, suddenly both boys realized at the same time something…
"You know," said Yugi, "I can't remember the last time I had so much fun, if ever."
As soon as he had said that, they both looked at each other and… laughed. They just laughed and laughed as they walked on, they were having fun. They continued on their way, along the dirt road, through the tall grass, and past the occasional trees, trying to find a safe place to rest. The sun had gone from right above their heads and was slowly starting to lower itself from the sky.
Suddenly a deep growl had come out of nowhere, and both boys put their hands around their stomachs, they hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and now they were paying the price. Yugi reached into his bag and pulled out a couple of apples and handed one of them to Yami. He insisted when Yami tried to refuse it.
"Go ahead," said Yugi smiling holding out the apple. "You did say that you were starting to run kinda low of food. And… isn't this what… friends do?"
Yami started at Yugi as though he sprouted horns or something. Friends? Was Yugi his friend? Were they friends? Then all of a sudden he thought of something… that feeling he had before… was that what it was? Friendship? Yes, he was sure of it.
He smiled as he took the apple from Yugi, "Yes, we are."
When Yami took the apple and said those three little words, Yugi felt as though he was about to break down. He had done it… he had made a friend… whether or not he was a true friend… whether or not Yugi himself was capable of being a true friend was still uncertain… all that matters is that, for the moment, he was no longer alone.
"It looks like they're getting alone pretty well," she said looking at her friend. "I guess it's true, a real friend will feel more comfortable to you the first time you meet, than people you've met for a thousand years."
The man didn't say anything while he watched the two boys laughing together. It was strange, they only just met but they were acting as though they have been friends for years. Watching them brought back so many memories… when he was their age, he didn't understand but now he did…a friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing... not healing, not curing... that is a friend who cares.
He felt someone take hold of his hand, and a voice say, "You left us again." He looked over at his friend,
"What's wrong?" she asked. "It's not unlike you to act strange, but you're acting stranger than usual."
He sighed heavily. "It's just that I feel badly for those two," he said pointing at them. "The task that's before them isn't an easy one. They're just children; they shouldn't have to do this."
The woman sighed, "I know. But we don't have a choice, all we can do is keep a close eye on them until tomorrow… once the sun comes up, they'll be on their own."
She didn't say anything for a second while watching them laugh and eat those apples; "Well… maybe they're not completely on their own. After all, before this adventure of theirs is over; there will come a point when they will realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will."
"Our relatives are the family that we are born with; our friends are the family we choose," the man said more to himself that to her. "But they are still so young, and they both have much to learn before they can complete their jobs here. It's more than enough for any full-grown warrior, much less two innocent children."
She smiled sadly, "Yes, but they will reach the safe house we have set up for them very soon. Its not much but it has some food, and supplies. And the spells we put on it will keep them safe from anything… at least 'til the sun rises."
The man nodded a little absentmindedly.
"You know you have a big heart," the woman said. When the man turn to look at her in surprise she said, "If I didn't know you so well, I Never would have guessed it. If I didn't know how badly your own heart had been wounded.. I didn't know how I could help heal it. Even with magic, there are something's that cannot be healed. Even though there wasn't much that I could do, but I did share an hour with you, and I did share a joke with you....before we left on our own journey."
He then squeezed her hand very tightly for half a second, "That was enough; just knowing that you were by my side… I'm always going to be grateful for that. An ordinary friend will try to mend your heart once it's been wounded and poured out. A true friend will try to refill it as well."
The boys continued to walk, though by this point they were so tired they felt like they were about to collapsed. They were still worn out from all the running they did earlier, the sun was getting lower in the sky, and they were getting hungry again.
"Yami," said Yugi tiredly. "Can we take a break soon?"
Yami didn't blame Yugi for being tired, they have been walking and running all day, and his feet were really sore by this point. "Soon," he answered. They did need to rest soon, but it had to be somewhere safe for the night. Yami didn't know when they would reach the next village, and there weren't many places to rest out here. He began to really search the area around them; trying to find something they could use as shelter.
They kept on walking until Yugi got slower and slower, dragging his feet, and starting to doze off; Yami had to find something soon. Just when he was beginning to think that they were out of luck… he spotted it.
"Yugi! Look!" he yelled, snapping Yugi out of his doze. Yami had pointed ahead of them, where the tall grass had turned into a forest. Those tall trees would be perfect for shelter, and there should be berries and roots that they could pick for dinner. And there was bound to be water around somewhere for them to drink, they were both dying of thirst.
The boys suddenly got a second wind and took off running among the trees and shrubs as they laughed and enjoyed the shade. They hiked along an unmarked, steep trail that climbed up the side of small gorge, the trail was steep, but they do not have to ever actually climb. Eventually the trail leveled out and they then walked along a cobble stone path, which came to a small clearing ahead; in the distance they could hear a waterfall. As they walked along the path leading to the sound of that waterfall, the air became warm and the air felt refreshing on their faces,
They trooped through the forest trying to find a place to rest and after walking a few more yards they found the most beautiful place that either of them had saw. Saying they were amazed would be an understatement.
It was a small waterfall… This was on the left hand side of a gorge, facing upstream it is broken up into a number of segments. The bedrock here is tilted back against the flow of the river, creating many obstacles for the water to overcome. The waters, beautifully, cascaded down to become a small stream, which free falls, and falls below into a wide spring beneath' this small, gently sloped fall is at most 10 feet high, but in the spring beneath the falls must have been 100 feet wide.
The gentle murmur of rushing waters serenades the tranquil forest, the tall trees were a towering acre of green and brown wood, while the water was tinted a clear blue. As the waters in the spring flowed from the falls, it was continuously shaping, changing.
They made their way closer to the waterfall, with their mouths opened wide; when they did get closer to the water they saw it sparkled in the remaining light. Yugi went and dipped his hand in the spring and they both watched the gentle ripples. While Yugi knelt beside the spring, Yami went nearer to the falls, the waterfall splashed upon his skin when he got close enough. When he closed his eyes, he felt so rejuvenated like a giant weight was taken off his shoulders.
At the water's edge, Yugi felt a strong sense of peacefulness come to him; it was such a beautiful and majestic sight to see that he closed his eyes, basking in the sunshine's beauty and wonder. He's senses never felt so alive and with the gentle sights and sounds of the day he listened to the quietness of the soft waves ebbing and flowing.
Yami felt himself let go of his cares and worries, even for awhile, for the first time in his life he was taking time to reflect… time to let himself unwind from stresses and worries.
After they finally got over the shock of seeing something so beautiful, they finally looked around to see bushes full of berries, fruit and roots were all round them, they also were able to catch some of the fish that were swimming around in the spring. For once, dinner was not a problem and for the first time, in what felt like an eternity, they both had full stomachs.
Yami told Yugi to go and collect some wood for a fire, while he started to collect some fruit, and everything he could see. When Yugi had got back, Yami had caught some fish with his bare hands, and Yami also showed Yugi how to make a fire with two rocks.
As Yugi was watched Yami start the fire, something crossed Yugi's mind. "You're still young. It might take a while for you to find a real friend. But just remember, kid, the greatest gift is not found in a castle nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends." It was the words that the man had told him.
"Listen, kid, it's hard to really understand friendship unless you have one. You don't have too many friends, I take it?" Yugi didn't know why he was suddenly thinking about all this, but he thought that he was finally beginning to understand. All the words and advice that the man had giving him was crossing his mind; but what really got him was what he said the last time he saw him.
"Remember, little Yugi. You will play a bigger part in all this, than you know. You won't be alone for much longer. You will have a true friend sooner than you think. So don't ever forget… Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light…. and that every friend begins as a stranger to you." How did he know? Was Yami the person he was talking about? He didn't know.
"Yugi, don't you want a fish?" asked Yami.
"What?" asked Yugi, coming back to earth, "Oh, oh yeah, thanks." He put it out of his mind while he and Yami talked during their meal of berries, roots, fruits, and fried fish; and they talked about everything that crossed their minds. They were having so much fun, laughing and talking, they didn't even notice that the sun was long gone, and it was getting late.
After a while Yami looked up at the sky and told Yugi that they should go to sleep, so that they can decide what they'll do in the morning. Yugi was still tried from this morning so he didn't put too much of a fight, he was dozing off before Yami had suggested it anyway. There was a large patch of soft, green moss a little ways away so after they put out the fire, they crawled over to the moss and flopped down.
Yugi had fallen asleep, almost as soon as he closed his eyes, but Yami stayed up for a minute. He watched Yugi sleep for a moment before he remembered that Yugi had a blanket in his bag. So he quietly pulled out the worn-out blanket and covered Yugi with it.
After he made sure that Yugi was covered, he suddenly remembered what that woman had said to him, "You will play a bigger part in all this, than you know. You will have a true friend sooner than you think. So don't ever forget… Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light…. and that every friend begins as a stranger to you."
You will have a true friend sooner than you think. Was she talking about Yugi? Did she know about Yugi? Wait…
… was she, or that man that Yugi talked about,… were they the one's that had those men chase after them in the village? Where they the ones who brought them together? When he looked down at Yugi's sleeping face, he could feel a small smile on his face. If it was those 2 that caused those men to chase them he was glad. He lay down next to Yugi and felt himself dozing off; all this time… he'd been alone. That night… he realized something… whoever you are, it is your friends that make your world.
The wind blew gently, ruffling their hair, and before he faded into the dream world… his last thoughts were… "I'm… not alone anymore."
"Oh, isn't that the sweetest thing you ever saw?" she whispered watching the two boys fall asleep.
"I'm glad that they made it to this safe haven," he said. "This is the least that we can do for them. But remember, when the sun rises, we cannot help them anymore. They will be on their own."
She let out a sad sigh, "I know, but at least we can protect them for tonight at least. But between you and me… I think that as long as they have each other… I don't think that they'll need our protection."
The man smiled at that remark, "For kids who never had friends before… the sure are becoming friends fast."
"Are you really surprised?" she asked him. "They are children, and children need children to become their friends. And then those friends will become great friends, and the truly great friends are the ones hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget. And those friends will be the ones who say, "I will be there for you when you need me."
"That's true," the man said. "But I think that the words that escape that friend's mouth maybe "I'll be there when you say you need me" but the words that are unheard from that friend's heart are "I'll be there... whether you say you need me or not… especially when the tears come."
She felt a tear come to her own eye when he said that, "For someone who claims not to be a poet; you have a way with words." She looked at him and said, "But you are right, a simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend however… has shoulders soggy from your tears." She took a hold of his hand and they watched the two sleeping boys through the night.
This will be the last time that they will see those two for a long time; as soon as the sun raises… she and her friend will be gone… but she had faith in them. She knew that a long and difficult journey was ahead of those two… but she just knew from the very bottom of her heart… they will come through fine.
As the man watched them he thought to himself… "We will meet again my young friends. We can no longer help you from this point onwards… but I know that you can do this… as long as you both stick together. The fate of this world rests on the journey you will take… starting tomorrow. Farewell." The two of them turned… and as though they were never there… they disappeared into the darkness of the forest.