A Yugi/Yami story

Through a Dragon's Eye

Chapter 4-The Storm

Sunlight hitting his face was what woke Yugi in the morning; he blinked a few times when he finally opened his eyes and looked around; when he sat up, his blanket fell off. He didn't have it when he went to sleep… so how did…?

It was then that he heard soft breathing from right beside him; when he looked around, he saw the source of the breathing and he understood. Yami was still sleeping right beside Yugi; Yugi smiled as he watched Yami sleep on, and he knew that Yami was the one who covered him up. He felt choked up at that; he wasn't used to having someone look after or even care about him… not since mommy and daddy left anyway.

He watched Yami sleep on for a while and he noticed that Yami looked a lot different, Yugi knew that Yami acted a lot older than he was, but right now… he looked like just a child. Yugi watched Yami sleep for another second before taking off the blanket and carefully covered Yami with it. He got up and went to get breakfast ready.

He wandered around the waterfall collecting fruit and berries, he didn't like roots all that much, and he got a fire going by doing everything that Yami did last night. He also pulled out the remaining bread he brought with him out for an extra treat; they had to eat it before it got stale anyway. He also tried to catch some fish with his bare hands like Yami did last night, but ending up falling in the water instead.

The splashing was what woke Yami up; he sat up rubbing his tired eyes and looked around. When he saw Yugi sitting in the water, it took everything he had not to start laughing. He just stood up and walked over to Yugi and held out a hand. Yugi, looking really embarrassed, muttered a thank you and allowed Yami to help him up.

"Here," said Yami, still smiling as he walked a little deeper into the spring. "This is how you catch a fish."

After Yami had shown Yugi the right way to catch a fish, they sat down to have breakfast; and for two days in a row they had full stomachs. After they ate; they stretched out on the ground and listened to the waterfall flow downstream.

For a while, neither of the spoke, until finally Yami sat up to look Yugi full in the face and asked him, "So Yugi. What are we going to do now?"

Yugi was dreading the time that Yami would ask him that. The truth was, Yugi didn't want to leave this small stretch of paradise, but he also knew that they couldn't stay here forever. He honestly didn't know what to do. He was still tired from yesterday and he didn't like the idea of walking to the next village, "I don't know, Yami," was Yugi's answer. "What do you think we should do?"

He felt bad for leaving all this up to Yami, but he didn't want to be the one to make the decision here; he was also surprised at how important Yami's opinions were to him all of a sudden. And they only met yesterday! Although Yami had been traveling around on his own a lot longer that Yugi had so whatever Yami thought would be the best choice… he would go with it.

Yami looked back to the waterfall for a second, as though hoping for the right answer to suddenly come to him. He wanted to stay here… for a while anyway. He was tired of traveling around and was glad for a break for a change.. He was also surprised at how important Yugi's opinions were to him, even though they only meet a day ago, but Yugi lived on his own for almost two years, so he wanted Yugi to choose what to do here.

But Yugi seemed so keen to make Yami the leader, so Yami decided that he would take charge for awhile. The problem was that he knew that they couldn't stay at this spring forever and eventually they would run out of food or something, but he also knew that they were in no shape to travel right now…

"I think…" said Yami after a minute of watching the waterfall. "I think that we should stay here for a few more days, and once we packed up food and rested then we should leave."

Yugi sighed a breath of relief; he had been hoping that Yami was going to say that. "So what do we do now?" he asked.

Yami looked back at the water before turning back to Yugi with a evil grin on his face, "I bet I can swim faster than you can."

That set the tone for the rest of the day.

(Later)

They spent the whole day laughing, swimming, hiking, eating, and playing. Neither boy could remember the last time when either of them had had such a fun time. And in no time at all the sun had begun to set behind the towering wood and the boys were lying on their backs, beside a roaring fire.

"Hey, Yami," gasped Yugi. "Let's do all this again tomorrow."

Yami laughed. "You don't need to ask me twice." They then reached for a fried fish and dug in.

They were still just little kids but they can't remember a time where they were both actually happy or even had fun. They never realized just what they were missing in their young lives until they finally had someone to dare to be themselves.

But as they sat around the fire and talked; storm clouds slowly started to roll in.

Suddenly a loud BOOM came completely out of nowhere and almost made the two boys jump right out of their skins. A thunderstorm was almost here.

Both of them jumped up, as though they were given electric shocks and grabbed their bags, and ran towards the waterfall. See, when they were playing earlier they accidentally found a small cave right behind the waterfall, and it would serve well as protection from the rain. They made their way all the way to the very back of the cave just as the rain started to come down; they both sat on the cold, hard floor.

"Just our luck, huh?" said Yami looking out at the pouring water with disappointment. Yugi just had to laugh at that remark, "At least we're dry here." They watched the rain fall for a while before Yami decided to ask Yugi something that had been bothering him for a while.

"Ah, Yugi?" he asked timidly. "Why did you run away from your village? I mean if you don't want to tell me… I mean that's ok, I shouldn't have asked at all." now Yami was really regretting asking him that because he just thought about how he would feel if he was asked that.

Yugi shook his head,"its ok Yami," he said sadly as he thought about how to answer him. "I grew up in a small village far away from here; after my mom and dad died I would spend my days just dreaming of what my life could be like if I just got the courage to leave.. Every day I thought of leaving, but I never did; I kept making excuses to stay… but thinking about it now… I realized that I was trying hard to reach out to the other villagers. But when I'd try to talk to any of them… it felt like no one would even listen to me; I wanted nothing more than to belong somewhere… but something kept telling me that I wasn't going to belong in that village… so I finally worked up the courage to leave."

Yami listened for awhile, he felt so bad for Yugi, and he wanted to tell him that everything was going to be alright now… but he knew that he couldn't promise that, he needed to change the subject. "Where do you feel like you belong?"

Yugi thought about that for a second and answered, "I want to see the ocean," he said.. "I know that it might sound dumb, I want to feel the warm breeze, sleep under a bright sun, and play in the rush of the ocean. But what I really want is to find out where I belong. For as long as I can remember I didn't belong anywhere… I never had a place to belong… and by the time I realized that… I was all alone."

For a long time neither of them could say a word, but Yami had to do something before this uncomfortable silence killed him, so he asked Yugi, "Is there another reason that you want to go to the ocean?"

Yugi smiled, "I'll tell you, just don't laugh, ok?" he said. "When my mother was alive she used to tell me all sorts of stories, my favorite was one about the wizard Merlin and the sorceress Morgan le Fay. She told me that they had a magic ship, one that could fly through the sky, like on the ocean. My mother said that, according to legend, it was last seen on the shores of an ocean. So I decided that one of these days go to the ocean and see if I can find it, and I'm going to sail it," said Yugi. "I'll be free to go where I want to. I know that it sounds dumb but…"

"No, no," said Yami excitedly. "I don't think that's dumb at all. I think that it sounds great!"

Yugi stared at him. He used to tell the villagers about his goal; but they always said that it was dumb… that he could never do it. That he would never leave the village. That had always ruined his dream, but here, right here, there was someone who said that it wasn't dumb, that they supported him. "I guess the secret to friendship is being a good listener," he thought to himself, and he vowed that if Yami ever needed someone to listen; he would always be there to listen to him, and support him in any way that he could.

Yami went on… "I mean life out on a magic ship? One that flies through the sky, having adventures, it sounds like the best." Yami's eyes went all glassy for a second while he thought about the magic ship, he then asked, "Think you can fly it on your own?"

The question startled Yugi, "Why do you ask?"

Yami shrugged, "I just thought that maybe you might need some help with the ship?"

Yugi couldn't believe his ears. Was Yami saying what he thought he was saying? "You want to come with me?" he asked in amazement.

Yami laughed at the look on Yugi's face, "Why not?" he asked. "I mean its not like we have anything else important to do right?"

Yugi could feel a wide smile grow on his face, "I can't believe it! Finally someone else who believes that the ship is real' well, if we do find it you can be captain." Yami shook his head, "Come on Yugi, it was your idea, if we do find it then you can be captain… and maybe I can try my hand at driving the ship?"

"No way, Yami," said Yugi feeling blush come into his face, there was no way he thought that he could actually be a captain. But before he could say that out loud Yami said, "If we find it then we'll decide who will be what."

They spent the next few hours talking about the ship and where they will go when they find it. They decided that they would go on adventures and find treasure… they want to be free and have fun. To never have to listen to anyone else ever again, to eat their fill every night, and see places that no one else has. It was very late by the time they stopped talking and they were about to pass out from the day's events..

Yugi went to one side of the cave and laid down, "We'll finish talking in the morning." Yami nodded as he lay down and shut his eyes.

"Thank you, Yami," thought Yugi. He wasn't alone anymore; he didn't have to worry anymore. He felt that as long as he had Yami by his side, then everything was going to be alright. One day they will find the enchanted ship and sail through the sky as if it were water. Yugi could hardly wait, of course he knew that they still had to find the ship first, and they were going to have one heck of an adventure trying to find it, but it was an adventure that Yugi would miss for the world.

If there was one thing that he learned in the last few days it's that that things change, and people change, but it doesn't mean you forget the past or try to cover it up. It simply means you move on and treasure the memories you have and will continue to have. And he looked forward to the future, even if that meant leaving this little haven. He had no idea where they were going next or what they were going to do… but they'll find out together.

When it hurts for him look back and if he gets scared to look ahead, he knew that he could always look beside him and his best, not to mention his only, friend there.

It was by chance that he and Yami met, but by choice that they became friends.

(Later that night)

Yugi didn't know how long he was asleep when he woke up after he had a terrible nightmare about his last time he saw his parents alive. But just as he woke up, scared out of his mind, a flash of lighting and the sound of thunder made him even more scared. He hated thunderstorms and on top of that, he hated the dark to boot.

At first, he didn't know what to do until he decided to go to Yami. For some odd reason whenever he was near him, he felt like nothing would harm him or scare him. He slowly got up and walked to Yami's side of the cave; as he made his way over another lighting bolt flashed through the sky, and he started to wimpier.

"What's wrong?" Yami said sitting up and looking at Yugi with his friendly eyes, the thunder woke him up as well. Yugi was too scared to say much when the thunder ran through the sky and echoed through the forest. Yami got up from where he was sleeping, came over to Yugi, and pulled him into a protective hug. That alone was enough to calm Yugi down. "It's okay Yugi," he said to him gently, "Everything will be okay as long as I'm here with."

When the lighting and thunder ran through the sky again and Yami felt Yugi hug him tight and he could feel a smile go through his lips. They both sat on the cave floor sitting side by side, as Yami tried to calm down the frighten boy. "Yugi," he started "I know this isn't just about the storm. Something else is bothering you; do you want to talk about it?" It was strange; this was probably the closest thing he ever had to a little brother, Yami quite like the idea of having someone else to look after.

It was strange, this was probably the closest thing he'll ever have to an older brother, not that he was complaining. He liked having someone looking after him."I-I had a nightmare about my parents," Yugi said, shaking. Yugi said it with a sob and Yami could feel his own heart going out to Yugi. He had similar nightmares like that himself from time to time.

"I know how you feel, Yugi." I said to him quietly, not looking at him, "But you are safe now Yugi. I promise NOTHING will hurt you ever again."

Yugi looked up at me with his violet eyes still wet with tears. "Do you really mean that Yami?" he asked. "Do you P- Promise?" Yami just smiled at him and gave him another hug. "I promise Yugi," he said, "You have my word I'll make sure that nothing will harm us ever. I promise that one day, things will get better for us. Someday we'll find that ship and sail away from this place; we'll find where we belong."

As Yami talked, he could feel Yugi calm down and start to doze off. He continued to talk about what they would do when they found that ship and the kind of places that they would go to until Yugi fell asleep right next to him. Yami then, very gently, laid Yugi back of the floor of the cave and once again covered him with the blanket.

Yami watched the sleeping boy move in his sleep.. It was funny seeing Yugi sleep, he looked like a child. He was a child, not any older than he was in fact… but he wasn't like any other child that Yami ever met. He looked so innocent and almost angel-like in his sleep. When he was awake, he still looked like a child, but his eyes told another story. They seem to hold a wisdom that reached far beyond his years.

The boy looked so peaceful in his sleep; he wasn't having any nightmares now. There were times when Yugi confuse Yami. Even after everything that he'd been through, it never cease to amaze him how Yugi could keep his pure aura. He had no idea why he took a likening to Yugi in such a short time, together... maybe because he realized that they were so much alike in many ways. But no matter what, he felt this… deep, protective feeling towards Yugi, who was already starting to feel like a family to him… at least more than his father ever did.

Someday he hoped to tell Yugi the truth about why he ran away… but he was afraid of what Yugi would think about him if he did.

"Our relatives are the family that we are born with; our friends are the family we choose," he thought to himself.

There was also something else that bothered Yami. What would become him and Yugi? Would they stay friends like this or go their own separate ways? Would they really find that flying ship? These thoughts filled his mind; he took great care to hide them from Yugi. The last thing he wanted to do was to worry Yugi about the future. They still had a long journey together before they came to that point and he wanted to treasure every minute that he had with each other.

It was funny how much this one, small boy had changed him so much in only a few days. Had it really only been a few days? Sometimes it felt like he knew Yugi his whole life. He used to be a cold, child who didn't have a single friend; there had been several times where he thought that he would be alone for the rest of his rest. But Yugi was changing all that. Yugi had somehow brought some warmth into Yami's cold heart and was showing him that he wasn't alone in the world…

He made Yami realize that friendship is the comfort that comes from knowing that even when you feel all alone, you aren't.

He just knew that he was supposed to be with Yugi… he couldn't explain how he knew, he just did. Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they are meant to be there; they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or help you figure out who you are. He was able to talk to Yugi in a way that he never could to anyone else… especially his own father… " friends will know you better the first time you meet than people you know you in a thousand years." He now understood what those words meant.

A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself someone who can reach out for your hand...and can touch your heart. He never wanted to forget it. And he won't. He made it his self-appointed duty to do whatever he could to protect his friend. I mean after all…

… It is by chance that they met, but by choice that they became friends. Once again he fell asleep right beside Yugi, and he then whispered quietly into Yugi's ear, "Don't walk in front of me, Yugi; I might not be able to follow. Don't walk behind me; I might not be able to lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend. That's all that I want."

He realized that what that woman said was true… "A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and impossible to forget..."

(Somewhere not too far away)

Someone or rather something… was watching the two boys sleep with polite interest. The creature wasn't human, but wasn't a monster either; it watched these two boys, that look almost identical to each other, all day and play with each other. It watched them eat, and hike, and talked about a flying ship; it could also feel itself laugh along with them and caught up with their own feelings.

The creature liked to watch the boys having a good time; and it also knew that they were going to be leaving this place very soon. "It's strange," thought the creature as it watched them fall asleep..

The creature was a person who was unable to find its own place in the world. No, that's not the whole truth, it was once a person, now he was a creature that frighten humans, no matter how much it desired to do good and help others, the truth was… it was a creature that humans ran away from.

The creature, watched the children sleep through the night until the smaller one woke up from a loud bang of the storm. It watched him walk over to the taller one and sat down right beside him. It watched them talk to each other, until they both lay down and went off to dream land.

In the hearts of all humans, there is both good and evil, the two live together inside the same soul. Some humans become good and others become evil; it was the way of the world. Or at least that's what the creature had always thought. However it was most intrigued by these two small humans, especially the smaller one… what was his name? Yugi? That's it.

The creature was most interested in that young child, he is certainly a human being, just like his companion, and yet these two knew had only met a couple of days ago. These two were now willing to do anything for each other..

The creature knew that Yugi does have a kind and gentle heart, but surprisingly this creature could detect no trace of darkness or any kind of evil coming from the boy's heart. Only the most good hearted and pure of spirit could make it thus… "Could there truly be such a person?" thought the creature. The creature decided to watch over these boys a little while longer.

To be continued…

If you want to know if they ever find the flying ship, why Yami ran away, what will happen to them next, who those the man and the woman are who have been watching them… and what the creature is that is now watching over them… then keep on waiting for the next update soon.