Rage and Grace

by Child You Are Hell Bent

Is the enemy of your enemy your friend or your enemy? It wasnt something Yugi thought about until he became the hostage of a magic nation, was stripped of the Puzzle and tortured mercilessly. And now this Ministry is asking for his help? But they're not the only ones. The lines between good and evil will be drawn, but Yugi will be lost as to who has the cause worth fighting for.

9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Alright you guys, I want you to go easy on me. This is the first dark game I have ever written. And by dark game I don't meaning playing duel-monsters with a few extra magic tricks. I mean Season 0, original manga style dark game. Don't be afraid to tell me what you think! However keep the hysterical laughter to the bare minimum XD

When Minerva opened her eyes, she was no longer leaning against the wall of the medical wing. The white walled room had completely disappeared, without a single trace to represent that the medical wing had even been there in the first place. Instead she was surrounded with a sea of black that was tinged with the occasional shot of dark purple and royal blue.

Thunder crackled over head, Minerva jumped as each rumbling sound crashed in the air. Her eyes darted to the burst of white energy that flashed in the air every time. It sounded close.

Where on earth was she?

"Albus? Poppy?" Minerva called, standing to her feet. She almost lost the sound of her own voice in the oppressive air of wherever this was. She shivered, wrapping her arms tight around herself as she looked for her friends. But there was no one here, it was so cold. "Can anyone hear me?"

So cold, Minerva could feel it snapping at what she had previously thought to be the thick material of her robe. It ate through the fabric as if it had been nothing but silk and nipped at her spine until the shivers that were running through her body became uncontrollable and constant.

Minerva's teeth started to chatter as she slowly started to walk around, forcing her rapidly growing numb legs to respond. The last thing that Minerva remembered was getting into that fight with the spectre that had come from Yugi's Puzzle. The thing that looked so much like Yugi, in an inhuman and insanely cruel kind of way. Then, she remembered what looked like shadows, bleeding from his boots, shadows that had climbed up her body, slipping into every pore until she was completely enveloped.

Then she had woken up here. This wasn't like anything Minerva had seen before, and she would be lying if she said that she wasn't afraid. Reaching into her pocket, Minerva pulled free her wand and levelled it to the air in front of her. She fought to keep her wand had steady, but it seemed to be a losing battle, as even Minerva could see the thin piece of wood shake.

"Lumos."

The ball of light appeared on the tip of her wand, and Minerva gave a small sigh of relief as it illuminated the area around her. The normally incredibly bright light however, only spread a few centimetres. Minerva could only see the tips of her shoes, and the imposing looking steel wall that towered above her. It as if the darkness was too thick for the light to shine.

Footsteps echoed behind her, and Minerva whipped around, following the sounds. The temperature dropped suddenly. In a way a few seconds ago Minerva never would have thought possible, and the light on Minerva's wand flickered and died.

Minerva backed up as the foots steps grew closer and she was plunged into darkness once more. "Lumos." She whispered, her wand flickered for a second before the light fizzled out once more. With a soft thump, Minerva's back collided with the steel wall she had seen earlier. There was no where else to run!

"Lumos. Lumos!"

"There's no use. There is no room for light in a Dark Game. One can only let themselves adjust to the darkness, and hope that's enough to survive."

A roll of nausea twisted in Minerva's stomach, she recognized that voice. As her eyes did indeed slowly adjust to the darkness she was greeted with the lithe form of the spectre once more. Black leather encased legs and chest, boots that echoed across the stone floor, and back, red and blonde hair that shot up to the sky, gravity be damned. Red eyes gleamed in the darkness like those of a cat. Minerva could see their slitted pupils, and was instantly reminded of what Voldemort used to look like. That thought served no other purpose than to scare Minerva further.

"Where am I!" Minerva demanded as she stood up a little straighter against the wall, glaring daggers at the man. "Who are you, and why have you brought me here?"

A wicked looking smirk spread across the spectre's face, brilliantly white teeth shinning as the canine's were revealed. He steeped closer and closer, regardless of the wand that Minerva was pointing at his chest.

Even as Minerva drew the first breath in to word the spell that would make him back away, the spectre's form seemed to flicker, disappear and reappear several feet away from where he was before, now nose to nose with Minerva. The spell hung like a dead weight against Minerva's lips as she had to fight to keep that last syllable in her mouth.

The spectre was leaning chest to chest with her, and a single hand had moved her wand until the tip rested uncomfortably underneath her chin. The amount of leverage this simplistic position granted the spectre was astounding, she was completely immobile.

"It's always the same questions: where, who, why... You may call me Yami, if names are so important to you," he breathed in her ear, so close that Minerva could feel his lips move against the sensitive skin. "and this is a Dark Game, one to punish the travesties that have been committed against my Light's soul, the most unforgivable of crimes."

Minerva fought against the hold Yami had on her, struggling to get free, "Why don't you understand? We're trying to help Yugi, not hurt him. We didn't do any of this!"

Yami with a soft growl only pinned her closer to the wall, despite him being shorter and lighter than her. The hand that kept Minerva's wand against her chin pressed in closer and Minerva bit back a whimper as the wood bit into her skin.

"You should be careful not to lie in the presence of a Dark Game. For it could easily be considered cheating, which will only serve to make your punishment more severe." Yami purred, before taking a step back, moving out of Minerva's personal space. "Aibou was in your presence. I can smell his blood, his fear all over you. There for you take the blame, and for that you will play a Dark Game."

Dark game... Minerva didn't understand what Yami was talking about, if anything this sounded like a twisted thing little kids would play. Game... Now that Minerva looked back onto everything Yami had said, the way he had spoken earlier, he seemed to take everything as a game: "they only won by a technicality last time". This man was absolutely insane, she couldn't risk not taking this man seriously. Minerva doubted that anything entitled game in this man's mind could be considered positive.

"What is this dark Game" Minerva finally asked, watching as Yami backed away and placed a hand on his hip, staring at her like a cat with a mouse.

The smirk on Yami's face grew into a sneer, and he raised a hand into the air, drawing Minerva's attention to the steel wall before her. Minerva turned around, starring at the opposing structure.

Now that she could see at least some details in the inky, heavy darkness, Minerva was able to spot a heavy looking door crossed with heavy bolts. As her eyes drew around, past the door and to the walls, Minerva realized that it was not just one structure as she had originally thought, but a box. She could see the sharp looking joint from were the original wall formed with another.

Yami grabbed onto Minerva's forearm, and she gasped as that suffocating cold she had felt earlier returned with a vengeance. She squeezed her eyes shut against the unfamiliar, unbearable feeling of cold suffocation. It felt like she was dying being ripped apart, more so than even doing a side along aparation. Minerva could hear Yami chuckling in her ear, she could easily pick up the mocking tone.

Suddenly the darkness removed it's vice like grip on her lungs, and Minerva stumbled as she tried to regain control of her breathing. Her stomach was threatening to leave her. Placing her hands on her knees, Minerva fought against the urge, shaking softly.

Yami ignored his opponent as he gazed around the room, taking in the insides of the steel box. It was over three times as wide as he, and several feet high. Roofless as one could expect, for what reason would a dark game need to keep out the elements? Along the ground was a tile floor. Each tile was split up with seemingly random scrawled designs of black and gold. Deep groves separated the tiles, except for one square tucked into the left corner by the door. It appeared that the tile was missing there, leaving only the smooth stone floor that had appeared outside the room.

"A dark game..." Yami began, pacing around the room, placing his hand on the glass wall which gave light to another room of identical appearance. "Is used to test the souls of those who play, and to punish those who commit wrongs. A game is played, and the winner goes free, while the loser plays a penalty game. There is always a loser."

Yami waved his arm around the small room, inviting Minerva to look around. "I have challenged you to a dark game, and we will not be transported back until the game is complete."

"What are we suppose to be doing?" Minerva asked apprehensively, this wasn't something she understood. There wasn't anything in this steel box that could constitute a game of any sorts, or at least not one that Minerva recognized. The floor was the only thing that looked even the slightest bit out of place, not made of steel like the rest of the box, but of obsidian and gold. "What's the purpose to this?"

Even as Minerva spoke, she had unconsciously shifted her weight onto the tile before the large empty space. Wit a loud creak the square slid backwards, taking Minerva with it. She yelped as her entire body suddenly started to move. Jumping back, Minerva clung as close as she could with the far wall, watching with amazement as the tile and empty space changed places.

Yami was watching with a wicked look on his face as Minerva slowly figured out the game. "This is called a tile puzzle." he drawled, moving into the dead centre of the puzzle, his cat like movements not even causing the puzzle pieces to shake. "The goal of this game is to be the first to escape from the room. The only way to do this is to put the puzzle back together. For once you do, the exit will appear. Understand?"

Dimly, Minerva felt herself nod, despite the rest of her body screaming her denial What in Merlin's name was a tile puzzle? Arthur had told them that the item around Yugi's neck was a puzzle, she recognized the word. This one seemed to be a different type. Even as she cast her gaze around the small room, Minerva could feel the hopelessness sink in. There was no picture of what she was supposed to be creating, like Arthur said there almost always was for puzzles. it was just a disjointed mass of gold lines and black background.

"How do I know that you are not cheating?" the question slipped out before Minerva had even thought the words through. However she was really starting to feel the desperation. This puzzle made no sense to her what so ever. Maybe with a bit of effort she could convince Yami to play a game that was better suited for her, at the very least one where she understood what on earth she was supposed to be doing...

At least that was the plan.

Yami blinked at Minerva's words, and his body grew more taunt than a dragon's heartstring. "Cheating?" he asked incredulously, an angled eyebrow rising into spiky blond bangs. "Explain."

Taking a deep breath, Minerva fought to keep her voice clear, calm and steady. "Well you created this game didn't you? Then that mean you know what the picture is, which puts me at a distinct disadvantage."

Yami snorted as his eyes narrowed, "You actually have the nerve to accuse me of foul play? I'll give you credit, you're far braver than the people I used to play these games with. Or more stupid." Yami said , scorn dripping from every syllable. For a moment, Minerva felt herself falling into the charismatic voice, believing every word. This man would do well as a politician... "To answer your question, I didn't create this game. The items create the dark games in accordance to the travesty of the crimes committed. I know just as much about the game as you do."

"That's just the thing, no you don't!" Minerva snapped, causing Yami's head to tilt slightly to the side in question. "I have never even heard of a tile puzzle before. The only reason I know what a puzzle is from Yugi putting together his and from the descriptions I've received from a friend, but those don't match this monstrosity. How on earth could this be considered fair?"

Since this game had started, the insanity that seemed to cling to this man like a cloak had all but washed away. As if he was more at home in this dark abyss, the feral persona replaced with a frustratingly cocky smirk that spread across his thin foreign features. For the last ten minutes or so, Minerva had desperately wanted to scrape his face clean with a carving knife. All thoughts of violence immediately fled with their tails between their legs however, when Yami's expression darkened once more. That zealous, possessive feeling madness taking over everything.

Yami's fist's clenched so tightly Minerva could see them shaking, and for a few seconds they seemed to flicker and waver, changing from solid flesh to the dark, wispy shadows that had brought Minerva here in the first place. Red eyes, supernatural in their own right due to their colour, began to glow, running Minerva's blood icy cold. "You dare speak Aibou's given name so callously?" Yami spat out through clenched teeth, taking a single step forward.

The momentary flash of bravery that Minerva felt had not really been worth it in the end. For even as she tried to take a desperate step away from her attacker, the temperature dropped so much that her robe froze to her body. Her muscles cramped and knotted before they they locked, causing Minerva pure agony as she collapsed to the ground

Yami crouched above her, the angry gleam in his eye had seemed to grow in a way that should not have been possible. Yami grabbed onto the collar of Minerva's robe and pulled her up to eye level. Minerva bit back as the skin was ripped from chest from the frozen robe and her stiff muscles protested the treatment. "To speak something so precious without a second thought, a gift granted to friends and family alone? What right do you have?"

Minerva felt frozen solid, and it wasn't just because of the cold, the pure intensity of this man had scared her stiff, in a way that even hordes of Dementor's could never even dream of. "Be grateful mortal that from the moment I called this Dark Game your soul is safe until the end, for Ra grant me strength so I don't let your blood run now."

Minerva jumped as his fist collided with the floor beside her ear. The tile immediately cracked under the pressure, Minerva could hear the spiderweb cracks that spread underneath her head. She remained stock still, barely even breathing as the spectre released her robes, and Minerva's head cracked painfully into the tiles.

Yami paused, drawing in a few shaking breaths as he once again tried to regain control of his anger. His chest shook with the very effort, yet Minerva found herself unable to tear her eyes way. "The fact you do not know how to complete a puzzle," Yami said, his voice and face returning back to it's state of cocky indifference, "Does not violate the terms of our dark game, nor does it matter to me. For it's your own ignorance that holds you back. Your people did not grant us any leeway as we struggled to understand what was happening to us, so neither will I grant you a luxury as simple as an explanation."

"But we had nothing to do with this!" Minerva cried, lifting her arms out imploringly. "Please, we weren't involved with their actions.Your fight isn't with us, we just tried to help." Gently, carefully, Minerva rested the tips of her fingers against Yami's bicep, trying to ignore the lack of any human warmth as she desperately tried to make him understand. The man was as cold as death!

Yami yanked his arm free from Minerva's grasp. The sudden movement forced her down to the ground with a gasp, and she could only watch as Yam's body started to disappear into the pitch black. He merged with the dark atmosphere, disappearing steadily until only his face remaining in the darkness

"Game Start!" Yami yelled as the darkness started to envelope his face as well, until there was no one standing in front of Minerva. She blinked as she realized that once more she was alone, trapped in some unknown place. However after a few seconds, Minerva saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and she realized that Yami's form had started to rebuild itself a few feet away.

The wall on Minerva's right, was in fact not a wall as she had originally thought, but a giant window. Through the reflective surface, Minerva could see a room of identical shape and appearance to the one she was currently standing in. Right down to the mass of tiles that made up the floor. Each one seemed to be the exact same place. As far as Minerva could tell, there wasn't a single one out of place.

Yami was kneeling just beside the empty space in his room, staring unblinkingly at the puzzle. It seemed he was completely oblivious to Minerva's prying gaze on his back. Or at least that's what Minerva hoped.

Crouching down, Minerva slowly pushed on a piece of her puzzle, sliding a piece to the left of the empty space into the slot. The idea of this seemed simple enough, no that Minerva actually sat down and thought about it. Just shift the pieces around to make a picture.

Of course it would help to know what the picture actually was.

That thought rocked around in Minerva's mind with the force of a Fanged Frisbee. The more Minerva actually thought about her dilemma, the more annoyed she became. What in Merlin's name was she looking for?

Without pausing to think, Minerva moved five more pieces in rapid succession. With a series of heavy clunks they slid into their new homes. Every time Minerva moved a single piece, at least two others would be forced to move as well, changing the entire array.

After she moved the fifth piece into place, Minerva finally took the time to pause and take a look at the damage. It appeared as if that what Minerva originally considered to be gold lines, in fact moved to form a circle shape. Or at least it looked circular from the 4 pieces she had managed to actually connect. Two sets on either side.

With a triumphant smile, Minerva set about her task, searching the board for a piece that looked like it could match either set she had created. It would have to be an edge, more black than gold, with the gold directed towards the outside. Minerva bit the inside of her lip as she looked for it.

After a few minutes of desperate searching, Minerva finally found her ideal piece, staring at her from the top right corner of the board! Racking her brain, Minerva struggled to see how she could get the item from one side to the other. Reaching forward, Minerva started to push and pull pieces at random intervals, surprised at how easily the piece slid into place. Almost as if there was a direct path for the piece to move into. Minerva's satisfaction grew as she watched the new piece slide perfectly into its new spot.

Minerva now had a half of a half of a circle, and half of that on the other side. In reality that didn't mean to much, without a doubt. But at the moment it felt pretty good.

... or maybe not.

An uncharacteristic swear hung dangerously on Minerva's lips as she realized that in the process of gaining that one piece for her puzzle, she had separated the piece on the opposite side. Not just separated, much to Minerva's chagrin, but spread from one side of the board to the other.

The puzzle was really starting to grate on Minerva's last nerve. Shifting a few more pieces around, attempting to put the pair back together, Minerva only managed to mess the puzzle up even more. Not only was she unable to rematch the pieces, she had completely jumbled the other pieces.

With a huff, Minerva staggered to her feet, cheeks burning an angry red. She couldn't do this! This puzzle was insane, how in Merlin's name was she supposed to solve it? Every single move she made ended up breaking apart as soon as she tried to do something else.

Taking a deep breath, Minerva fought to regain control of her frustration. She would have to be calm to solve this asinine thing. In and out, in and out Minerva breathed, removing her attention from the puzzle for a second. She had to calm down.

Of course, the entire room was basically made up of the puzzle, so takings ones mind off of it was a task all on its own. Unless you looked at the walls or up in the air. Unfortunately for Minerva, in the ploy to ignore the unjustly frustrating floor, looked up onto the wrong wall. Finding not steel as she had originally thought, but glass.

Or more specifically the person on the other side of the glass. Minerva stared blank eyed as she came to the slow and painful realization that Yami already had the top half of his puzzle completed. The golden circle had been revealed to be not a circle as Minerva had thought, but a ring with a smaller piece of gold in the centre.

Yami looked so calm as he worked, not even hesitating as he moved pieces around. The frustration Minerva felt every-time she was forced into taking apart her hard work just wasn't evident here. As Minerva watched she even felt her own frustration start to disappear, only to be replaced with apprehension. Apprehension that was build into good old fashioned fear faster than she could control it.

At this rate, Minerva was going to lose. Yami had this game in the bag. Minerva bit her lip as she stared at her own mess of a puzzle, it didn't look anything like Yami's. Clenching her fists so tight that the nails dug into the sensitive skin of her palm, Minerva felt her heart start to pound so fast that it hurt.

What would happen if she did lose? Yami had mentioned something about a penalty game? What was that? Would he kill her, or would he just leave her here? Trapped in this steel prison for the rest of eternity?

All because she couldn't solve some idiotic muggle game.

The imposing steel walls seemed to close in around her, and the air grew stale and thin. Suddenly Minerva couldn't seem to breath, and her mind froze. If she lost this game she would die, be left in here to rot..

Unless...

The purpose of this game was to escape the room right? The puzzle was the most obvious way out, or at lest the specified one. Minerva knew that she had seen a door when she had first walked in here.

Yes! Turning around, Minerva spotted the door. The same imposing thick steel as the walls, it would have been so easy to miss. Except for the heavy steel, riveted bars that kept the door locked. Identical to the bolts Minerva had seen on the outside.

But when had a locked door ever stopped a witch?

/

"Albus, watch Minerva for me. I'm going to find a potion to wake her up. Why spells aren't working I don't understand."

Poppy had taken complete control of the situation in the hospital wing. Within seconds of collapsing, Minerva had been lifted onto a medical bed, and Poppy had started to search for the reason of her collapse. In the mean time Albus had lifted the puzzle up and off from Yugi's neck once more, looking at the most obvious source of their problems.

The moment that spectre had appeared from the puzzle, he had all but destroyed the hospital wing. Beds had been overturned, a few windows shattered. The worst of it had been the attack on Minerva. They had all seen what Cornelius had been raging about in those few seconds as Black magic had been forced into their systems, effectively defeating every single one of them.

It wasn't Yugi that was the threat however, in that Cornelius had been mistaken... It was who or what ever was possessing his puzzle. The main question that remained was wither or not Yugi was a privy party in all of this, or was he just a hapless host.

By the time both Albus and Poppy had come out of their unconsciousness, they had both been shocked to see the inky darkness that had all but seemed to seep from the spectre's form. The darkness had smothered Minerva until she had become lost in the black substance. By the time it had cleared, both Albus and Poppy had been treated to the sight of Minerva crumbled on the ground. At that moment the spectre had disappeared into the darkness of his creation, leaving them in a false sense of quiet.

There had been nothing to determine what was wrong, Poppy had declared with a pale face. For every single spell Poppy had tried seemed to give the general agreement that Minerva was perfectly healthy. Except for the beads of sweat darting across her forehead, the way her fingers twitched against her sides, and the way her eyelids darted restlessly beneath their lids.

Albus sighed from his seat on the bed between Yugi's and Minerva's. Long fingers clutched at the heavy silver chain of the Puzzle, Albus taking extra care not to touch the item itself. He could feel the sheer amount of magic the item seemed to vibe. More than a dragon, or even a unicorn. And all of it seemed to be contained within a gold upside down pyramid.

This item had been far more of an enigma than Albus had ever though possible, unfortunately not in a positive way. It was obviously more than the conductor they had previously assumed it to be. For it obviously had some magic of it's own. The puzzle almost seemed to be glowing. A light the same colour as the puzzle itself emanating from the eye in the centre.

Judging from the centre piece, the puzzle seemed to be Egyptian in origin. Probably explained the pyramid shape as well. Ancient, but how old Albus would admit he had no idea. To what knowledge did the Ancient Egyptians have of sealing spirits into solid objects? To Albus's knowledge it couldn't be done, bits of a soul maybe. Yet that came with a steep price, and most definitely could not be done with an entire soul. Besides, despite the Egyptian's advanced knowledge of the human soul and the after life, there was no way the wizards of old were advanced enough for this kind of magic.

Tearing his gaze from the puzzle, he looked once more at Minerva's limp form. His a keen eye took in the thin line of sweat the covered every inch of her skin. Albus noticed, with a mild amount of surprise that her collar and the tips of her sleeves seemed to be frozen, despite the warmth that came from the newly lit wood stove. It didn't seem to be melting either. Odd to say the least...

There were rips in her sleeves that hadn't been there just a few seconds before as well. Albus watched with an raised eyebrow as the material of Minerva's robe was suddenly moved, as if all the material had been yanked up from the back to the front. Like someone had grabbed Minerva's collar and pulled her up.

Albus could only sit and wonder what on Earth was happening that could effect an unconscious woman in such of way. That was of course, if Minerva was indeed unconscious. Or had the darkness had something more to play with this than it had originally appeared. A magically enhanced dream sequence? Arthur had noted similar attributes about the people he had seen within the Ministry. Trapped in a Nightmare? That's what Arthur had described it as. It seemed to fit in this circumstance.

A few seconds later, Poppy came bustling around the corner with a tray full of potions that she had just pulled from her stocks. Sitting down on the edge of Minerva's bed, Poppy placed the tray on the bed side table before uncorking them.

The strong smell of pepper filled Albus' nose, allowing him to classify it as a Pepper-Up potion without even looking. Reaching forward, Albus moved to tilt Minerva's head back as Poppy raised the potion to her lips, trying to get the unconscious witch to swallow. The potion ran into Minerva's mouth as a small amount slipped down her chin. With a gentle hand Poppy urged Minerva's body to swallow the spicy potion. Minerva coughed in her sleep, but there was no further reaction.

Poppy's eyes narrowed as she frowned, placing the Pepper-Up potion back onto the tray and uncorked a vivid purple potion. This time when Poppy uncorked the bottle, Albus nearly gagged at the acrid smell that filled his nose. Not a potion he recognized, nor he wagered a potion at all. For this time, Poppy didn't not attempt to make Minerva drink it, but wafted the disgusting smelling substance underneath her nose.

Minerva's nose twitched and scrunched up, but still she did not awake. The frown on Poppy's face grow as she placed the potion back onto the tray, staring at Minerva. "If she had just been unconscious, that should have worked." Poppy said, running a hand through her hair. "That stuff could easily wake the dead. I don't understand what's wrong Albus."

Albus paused, taking a deep breath before he spoke. "The best we can do my dear is wait. I think that this is out of our hands this time."

Poppy nodded as she pulled out her wand, magicking the blankets that were neatly folded at the foot of Minerva's bed to unwrap. With a flick, Poppy moved the blankets overtop of Minerva, carefully tucking them in around her shoulders. "Do you really think that Yugi has anything to do with this?" Poppy asked, turning her attention to the boy on their other side.

Albus shrugged, the material of his robe wrinkling as his narrow shoulders rose up and down. "It's impossible to say at this point. However, one cannot judge a person on appearances alone. Just because Yugi looks like a child, does not mean he is innocent."

With a soft sigh, Poppy nodded, reaching over to snap the cork back into the acrid smelling mixture on the bedside table. She paused mid motion however, when a soft moan filled the air.

Yugi's head shook from side to side slowly, starting to mummer softly in his sleep. An almost unbelievable difference from the dead silence that had reigned over the boy for the last several of days. Reaching forward, Poppy gently brushed the bangs away from Yugi's face, attempting to coax him out of unconsciousness. Yugi groaned at the sensation, his fingers starting to twitch. "Come on Dear, it's time to wake up."

Maybe, if Yugi could wake up he could sort this out. Give some insight onto what on earth was happening. The Puzzle was his after all, even if Yugi was involved with all of this, he could at least provide answers. Standing up, Albus moved to the other side of the bed, crouching on the boys left. His wand hand remained beneath the top of the bed however, hidden from view but at the ready if need be. The appearance of the spectre had changed everything.

For a second the boy's eyes started to flutter and his breathing lost the regularity that came with sleep. Another groan slipped through Yugi's pale lips, this time his voice was more clear in the wordless noise. "You can do it, open your eyes for me dear?" Poppy prompted, her hand slipping to Yugi's fingers. "Squeeze my hand if you can here me."

A few seconds past before small fingers slowly closed around Poppy's hand, maybe not with as much pressure as one could expect from the average teenage boy, but it was enough. Yugi groaned again, and his eyes started to open.

It appeared to be a false start however, as no further movements where made, and Yugi's body started to fall limp once more. Poppy sighed as she slipped her hand free of Yugi's and moved to finish putting her potions away. If he was starting to respond, than the boy should wake up soon. Judging from his reaction time however, that should not be for another day or so. No matter how urgent the issue, if they rushed Yugi's awakening it could cause the boy serious harm. Something the spectre seemed acutely aware of, and willing to avenge.

As Poppy moved to turn towards her storage cabinet once more, a hand on her wrist quickly held her in place. Whipping her head around, Poppy stared at Albus and was about to speak before the elderly wizard placed a finger to his lips and pointed at Yugi.

Following Albus' finger, Poppy's eyes grew nearly twice their size in amazement. Yugi's eyes had remained closed, yet his hand had lifted up off the bed. Reaching blindly, Yugi slowly traced the material of his blanket, following the material up onto the centre of his chest.

"Why do I hurt so much, Mou Hitori no Boku?"

The words were spoken no louder than a whisper, as if the speaker had no voice to allow the words to carry any farther. However in the stunned silence that had befallen the hospital wing, Both Albus and Poppy could hear each and every words as if they had been shouted at the top of his lungs. Both Albus and Poppy could only watch dumb founded as the hand on Yugi's chest moved once more, seeming to grope blindly for something.

A frown appeared on Yugi's already drawn features, and he started to move his fingers way from his chest towards the skin of his neck. Looking for a necklace... or a chain.

"...I can't find the puzzle, do you have it?" Yugi breathed, shock and surprise filtering into his words. It was so surreal, watching this barely conscious boy have a conversation with nothing more than open air. As if he was expecting someone to be sitting on the bed beside him. "Mou Hitori no Boku?"

The silence seemed to draw out as they waited for Yugi to speak again, however the boy never did. Instead the skin between his eyes seemed to furrow in confusion, before amethyst eyes shot open.

As if he was connected by a spring, Yugi shot up into the air. Poppy gasped, not expecting the sudden movement, and she was over by his side in a heart beat. Yugi groaned in pain, clutching desperately at his stomach. Everything hurt...

Why did everything hurt?

As gently as she could, Poppy pressed her hand unto Yugi's shoulder, slowly as not to startle the poor teen. "Yugi, you need to lie down, alright? You've been through a lot, you have to take it slow so you don't tear open an injury."

Yugi was still not fully out of unconsciousness, his eyes were unfocused and hazy as they slowly drew in Poppy's direction. He seemed to stare for a second at the hand on his shoulder, before slowly following up Poppy's arm to her face.

Yugi blinked owlishly as he stared up at the nurse, before his eyes darted to Albus' face. With a small yelp, he scrambled away from Poppy's hold, and pressed himself tightly against the head board. With shaking hands Yugi wrapped his arms tight around his knees, curling himself into a tight little ball.

"Who are you!" Yugi demanded his voice low and hoarse from lack of water. The nagging burn begged for him to stop talking, but he ignored it. His eyes darted from in between Poppy and Albus never staying in one place too long. For the first time since he had arrived at Hogwarts, Yugi appeared to be fully conscious, fully aware and scared out of his mind.

Still shaking, Yugi curled in tighter, feeling the stabs of pain that were driving daggers into his body, protesting every movement. Tearing his eyes momentarily from the two people in the front of the room, Yugi stared down at his body taking in the white linen that covered almost every inch of his flesh. It looked like he had just walked out of the hospital. There hadn't been bandages before... What was going on?

Albus steeped forward, his teeth flashed white in a soothing, charming smile. Blue eyes twinkled from behind his glasses as the smile grew. "My name is Albus Dumbledore, and this is Poppy Pomfery." he said, keeping his voice slow and calm. Yugi's head immediately perked up in Albus's direction, and he stared unblinkingly at the man as if gaging the threat.

With the slight flick of the wrist, Poppy watched Dumbledore's wand fall into his sleeve, and he shifted slightly so his open hands were in plain sight. "To answer your next question, which I am sure you would have asked next: your current location is that of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is where we have been taking care of you for the last week or so."

Witchcraft and Wizardry Yugi mouthed, his eyes growing huge at the implication of the words. Sure he had heard of the concept of wizards, who hadn't? Stories filled with wands, dragons and magic potions. It was the possibility of them actually existing that forced Yugi to stop and think. If the Millennium items could exist, which in turn gave a dimension of realism to almost every Egyptian myth, was it not possible that other forms of magic could exist as well?

If anyone had asked Yugi that question before what had happened at his house, he probably would have laughed. There was no such thing as wizards.

Now, however it made perfect sense. The people that had attacked him at his house had been witches and wizards. It explained a lot in retrospect. The sticks they had been holding, were wands. What had he managed to get himself into this time? If he ever got home, Jounouchi would get a laugh out of this...

If he ever got home.

"So you helped me?" Yugi finally said, slowly uncurling from his defensive position. His muscles remained taunt and at the ready however. The boy obviously did not trust them yet, despite Albus' charm which could work wonders on just about anyone. However, from the way he had been treated, it was wonders that he was reacting this well. "Why?"

Poppy smiled as she reached over and poured a glass of water from the pitcher beside Yugi's bed. She passed the glass over to Yugi as she helped him lean against the pillows in a semi sitting position. "Because you needed help." she said, helping Yugi tilt the cup to his lips. "The Ministry had no right to detain you like they did."

Yugi placed a hesitant hand to the glass. He seemed to pear at it's contents for a moment before touching it to his lips. After that preliminary test however, the glass was emptied in an instant. Within seconds Poppy was pouring him another, and this time Yugi held the glass on his own, tipping it nearly vertical in a desperate attempt to drink more. It had been so long since had been allowed to drink as much water as he wanted. It tasted so good.

Poppy placed her hand on the bottom glass, slowly moving it down to a level where Yugi wasn't going to choke on it. "I spent a lot of time making you well, I would really be annoyed if all of my hard work was ruined by you choking to death."

Yugi snorted in an unmistakable chuckle as he lifted the glass away from his mouth, holding the now empty container in his lap. It felt so good to get something to drink after so long without water.

"Where's my puzzle? I would like to know where it is." he asked, his free hand going up to rest slightly at his collar bone as Poppy moved to refill his glass once again. There was an awkward pause, and an unspoken message seemed to flash from between Albus and Poppy. One that Yugi didn't miss.

"Please, if you have the puzzle give it to me? It's really important that I get it back." Yugi knew that the puzzle was what had really in truly got him into trouble in his previous location. It had been his first mistake to show Minister how important the puzzle was to him. Somewhere in the back of his mind Yugi remembered putting the puzzle together, it was all a blur. But if the Puzzle was together then it was far too dangerous to have lying around.

There was that, and the fact Yugi was more than just a little desperate to find the other half of his soul. The place where his others self was supposed to be literally burned. Yugi was tried of being strong, he wanted someone to tell him that everything was going to be alright. He wanted someone to take him home, and make this all disappear.

He wanted his dark.

Yugi watched as Poppy suddenly looked nervous, and as the welcoming feeling slowly started to seep out of the room. That trusting twinkle in Albus's eyes slowly dimmed, and the harsh lines of his face became visible. A fist clenched itself in the pit of Yugi's stomach. From the looks of things he was too late.

A glint of silver caught Yugi's attention. There ,coiled around Albus's wrist was the heavy chain Yugi used for the Millennium Puzzle. The heavy gold pendant swung like a pendulum from it's hoop. The fist in Yugi's stomach clenched even tighter a Yugi noticed the golden glow emanating from the puzzle's eye.

The puzzle only lit up when either Yugi or Yami was using the powers contained with in. Yugi knew that he currently was not using a single drop of his magic. That only left Yami.

"Mou Hitori no Boku?" Yugi sent hesitantly down the link. Before, he had been far to concerned about his location to try and figure out why Yami hadn't been responding the first time he had called. But now Yugi was really concerned.

Silence filtered down the link. That fist in Yugi's stomach had moved, threatening to crush his lungs as they became wrapped in a vice grip. "Mou Hitori no Boku, what's going on?"

It was more than silence, Yugi realized. Even when Yami didn't respond through the link, Yugi could always sense his presence. A twinge of emotion here, a wisp of a thought there. Except for the few cases where Yami's magic was the one in control. When Yami couldn't risk letting Yugi come into contact or interfere with the dark energies the puzzle was producing.

Yami was playing a dark game...

Whatever colour that had been left in Yugi's faced drained out like water from an upside down glass. Despite how much Yami had changed, he was still that vengeful spirit that would punish anyone who tired to hurt what was his. And Dark Games were still his favourite means of going about it.

Yes, Yami had grown, had changed. He hadn't played a Dark Game in years. Hell, he had even been playing the god guy for several years, saving the world. But Yugi couldn't even imagine what it would have been like coming out of the puzzle, having no idea what was going on. The last memory Yugi had of Yami had not been of Yami's saner moments.

If Yami thought these people where the enemy then he would not be holding back. Yami would not sit around and wait to find out if he had chosen the right people or not. These people seemed to be willing to help Yugi. But if they discovered how dangerous the Millennium Puzzle was, what is to to say that they wouldn't send him back to Minister?

A tremble ran through Yugi's entire body as his mind slowly flowed down to the path of what had happened within the ministry. No matter what happened, Yugi didn't want to go back there, he doubted he could survive hat again.

Casting his gaze around the room, Yugi stared at the rows upon rows of empty beds. This appeared to be some version of a hospital. If this was school, at the very least this room was the nurses office. Which meant that if Yami had preformed a dark game, whoever the victim was had to be in this room. For Yami's opponent would faint the moment the dark game started. The game was nothing more than illusion cast by Yami's magic.

There, two beds away from Yugi's, he found what he was looking for. There was a woman lying stock still on the bed. Yugi watched with a sad expression the shallow rise and fall of her chest, and the sickening pallor that had become her skin. It had all the features of a dark game. "Is she alright?"

Yugi already knew the answer to the question, but at the moment it may be better to seem oblivious in this. Yes these people had helped him, but that didn't mean Yugi was sure he could trust them. Were they only playing nice to see what he knew, before locking him back up again? Was this a different tactic of Minister?

Hesitation, worry Poppy hadn't really bothered with stopping the emotions she was feeling spill onto her face, she was probably too concerned to worry about that. In a way Yugi was grateful, for the nurse did not seem angry at him, there was no resentment. The elderly man, Albus was impossible to read however. He seemed closed off, impassive in a way that Yugi had never seen before. Even without his magic, Yugi was good at sensing emoticons. Body language, eyes, tone... it was almost as if this man was stuck in neutral. It was rather disconcerting actually, Yugi didn't know what to make of it.

It was Poppy who spoke first and Yugi admired her attempt to keep her voice calm and steady, despite the slight waver that she couldn't quite cover. "We don't know, after the attack Minerva fell unconscious, and we haven't been able to wake her up since."

The vice around Yugi's chest tightened, and he released a soft sigh under his breath. He was going to have to have a talk with Yami about the whole attack first ask questions later strategy he seemed to have developed. "Attack?" Yugi asked, choosing his wording carefully, this could get rather messy. With Yami currently in a dark game, and Yugi with no energy or means to defend himself, he desperately needed diplomacy to work. "What kind of attack?"

It was Albus who spoke next, resting against the window between Minerva's bed and his own. "We were hoping that you could tell us." It was a statement and not a question, and Yugi realized that he had been caught. With a gentle toss, Albus threw the Millennium puzzle that had been previously coiled around his wrist into the air. The colour drained from Yugi's face as he watched gravity over take his puzzle, and he attempted to make a reach for it.

A searing pain rushed through his body, and Yugi cried out as he fell onto his back onto the bed, his neck slumped awkwardly against the head his eyes tight and panting shallowly as the pain radiated through his body. Yugi waited fro the resulting crash that would come from the puzzle being shattered. He couldn't be separated from Yami like this, not when their bond was so close to reconnecting. Besides there was no telling what would happen to Minerva if the dark game came to an end like this. Her mind could be stuck in Limbo for the rest of her now more than likely limited life.

It never came however, the crash. As the pain slowly fell down to a reasonable level, Yugi opened his eyes to see the puzzle hanging in mid air between himself and Albus. It hung without any visible means of support, twirling in mid air as if it thought as if it was still being thrown. There were hands on Yugi's stomach, and Yugi looked down to see Poppy crouched down beside him, slowly unravelling the bandages on his stomach.

"That was not necessary Albus." The nurse spoke, sounding all the world like a reprimanding mother. "You nearly gave the dear a heart attack, and you took out all the stitches I spent so long trying to get right."

Albus didn't respond, he only watched as Poppy slowly checked the open wound, before magicking a new bandage from the cupboard and started to wrap it around Yugi's stomach. "Your lucky dear." Poppy said as she worked, pulling the bandages tight to stem the sticky blood that had started to flow, "That the cut closed enough while you were asleep, I won't have to re due the stitches. You somehow managed to rip out all five during your little adventure. I would imagine they would be right painful to have them redone if you were awake. I don't understand muggle medicine sometimes."

But Yugi wasn't listening. Instead he was staring blank eyed at the puzzle, watching as the smooth metal gleamed in the candle light. Albus was watching to, slowly calculating the situation. Yugi truly coveted the item, more connected to it than most wizards were to their first wands. There was no reservations in attempting to save the puzzle, despite causing personal injury. Regardless of Yugi's words, it was obvious that Yugi was not as completely oblivious about the puzzle as he had been acting. He did know what the item was capable of, what had happened to Minerva, and still he kept the item with him.

"I am only going to ask this once, Yugi, For this puzzle and by extension you have become a risk to those living inside this castle. No games, no acting as if you don't know, what has happened to my transfiguration Professor?"

There was an icy tone to Albus's voice, and it bit and Yugi's confidence and assurance. Albus didn't even blink as Yugi ducked his head into his chest, and wrung his finger's together, desperate to stop the shaking that was overwhelming him. "Yes, I do." Yugi said finally, his voice meek and quiet, but it was growing more dominate by the second. Picking his head of his chest, Yugi looked up, and looked Albus straight in the eye "and I know how to help your friend, if you will trust me."

Albus's eye brow rose, but didn't say anything and Yugi took that to his advantage. "The Millennium Puzzle is home to a spirit. Judging from what has happened to Minerva, you have already discovered that." Albus nodded his head once, and Poppy leaned forward, listening to every word.

"You mean that someone has sealed a ghost up inside that little object? I didn't think that was possible!" Poppy said, crossing her arms tight around herself as she stared at the Millennium puzzle with an appreciative light in her eye. "I mean the spiritual energy alone would rip apart any object! How is this one still together?"

"Because... Mou Hitori No Boku isn't a ghost, at least not in the means that you are thinking. I mean he's dead but..." Yugi took in a deep breath, searching his mind for the right words to english they had taught him in school was enough for him to hold a normal conversation, but it didn't help with more delicate subjects requiring a more eloquent syntax. Who was he kidding, Yugi doubted he could find a single word in Japanese to help him much either. he had never explained this to anyone before, not even his friends. So trying to explain everything to a complete stranger was not something Yugi was looking forward to. At this point however, Yugi was willing to do just about anything to know that he and the puzzle would remain safe. If an explanation was all it was going to take...

Casting his gaze up to the puzzle that still remained hanging in the air, out of Yugi's limited reach, he released the gathered air with a soft sigh and continued. "The process is a bit more complicated than that... how do I put this... the Puzzle is a container for not a whole soul, but half. The darker half of my soul to be exact."

"Expect Yugi, that the puzzle -judging from it's appearance and energy- has been at its job for thousands of years longer than you have been alive. I need honesty, Yugi."

Bitting his lip, Yugi fought to keep his gaze on Albus, never tearing his gaze away from Albus's intense stare. "I'm trying to be honest, but you have to understand that this next part is exceedingly complicated. I would understand if you don't believe me."

Poppy chuckled slightly, covering the noise with a slight cough as Yugi turned around to stare at her in confusion. "I don't think your going to have to worry about that my dear. You would be amazed at how many unbelievable things happen every day around here."

Yugi smiled, the carefree expression immediately lighting up his worn, bandaged features. Instantly Poppy was reminded of the teenager that Yugi's age sent him out to be. He was just a kid...

"Alright then," Yugi began again, his hands falling to rest in his lap. This would be the hard part, finding a way to describe what the Puzzle was, without revealing why Mou Hitori no Boku and himself lived as a split soul. These people could not know that information, Yami had specified on many occasions that the power of the pharaoh was to be kept a secret. Would Yugi's cover story be enough though... "My soul is one that is thousands of years old, from the times of ancient egypt. After an experiment gone wrong in the time of Pharaoh's however, half of the soul was trapped inside the puzzle, while the other half, my half was doomed to wander the earth. Or as the Egyptians believed be reincarnated until it was rejoined with the other half of its soul and could pass through to the after life to be judged."

"That was an interesting story, young man. Truly worthy of late nights and a good cup of tea." Albus said, pushing himself off the wall to stand right beside Yugi. Yugi watched as the elderly leaned down until his head was level with that of Yugi's. "But how do we know that you are telling the truth?"

Yugi shrugged, "You don't, but it's entirely up to you whether you believe me or not." That's when Yugi felt it, the push against his mind. Yugi gasped at the sensation, feeling acid pour over raw was causing it, Yugi didn't know, all he know was it hurt. His limbs, that had just been starting to relax, tightened up again, and he curled back up into his ball, focusing all of his energy back into keeping whatever this was out. He cried out as the presence pushed harder, and Yugi clenched at his head as he fought to keep it away from the hole in his defences. The one that Minister had made before.

It was gone after a few minutes, leaving Yugi with nothing more than a headache. When he opened his eyes for a second time, however Yugi saw Albus's face right close to his, and noted with a suppressed smug smile that there was the smallest signs of a confused frown on Albus' face. He hadn't gotten through, at least that meant something.

However, Albus had tried to break into his mind. Without a single warning he was willing to invade someone's mind and pry it apart. Just to find out if Yugi was telling the truth? What kind of people were these wizards? To rip through the most sacred of places, without a second thought. Maybe it was because he had spent so much time with Yami, but it wasn't something that Yugi could understand.

Yet both Poppy and Albus were staring at Yugi, with the oddest looks on their faces. As if they hadn't expected his extreme reaction to what ever it was Albus had tried to do to him. Maybe this was a common place thing, to look inside someone else mind. Just because it was beyond the realms of invasion of privacy does not mean they agreed.

"How long has it been since Minerva collapsed?" Yugi asked, changing the subject as he turned away from Albus to look at Poppy. The elderly man had moved out of Yugi's personal space, but still stared unblinkingly at him. It was very unnerving, it almost reminded of Yugi of staring at a math puzzle, hoping the numbers will provide all the answers.

A small frown line appeared between Minerva's eyes, "about 15 minutes" she said, looking over to Albus for confirmation. Sticking his hand into his pocket, Albus pulled out a pocket watch. With a resounding click the catch opened to the clock face beneath.

Craning his eyes, Yugi caught a quick glance at the surface. However all he could see was what looked like tiny planets moving in a circle. Not something that Yugi would use to tell time. It seemed to make sense to Albus however, "Yes, I would say so my dear."

Yugi's eyes closed, and the smallest twinges of a smile once again appeared on his face. It wasn't the same as the ear to ear grin Poppy had seen earlier however, this one was an odd cross between a sad smile, and that of one who had just figured out an extraordinarily difficult puzzle. "Okay, I don't think that Mou Hitori no Boku's dark game would have ended by now. We still have a chance to help her.

"Dark Game?" Albus inquired quizzically, Yugi could feel the curiosity barely contained within the words. Gods this man was more curious than any cat Yugi had ever met.

Yugi nodded absentmindedly as he sat up off the head board, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Yes, a dark game. Mou Hitori no Boku's favourite way of punishing those who he thinks has committed wrongs. You play a game, and the loser... well its best not to think about that sometimes. However, the games are usually rather involved, so they take a little while to finish. Unless of course Minerva cheats."

A light lit in Poppy's eyes, a hopeful gleam. "Don't worry, Minerva doesn't cheat. Sure she can be rather impatient at times, but she doesn't cheat."

"You had best hope so. Dark Games bring out the worst in even the best of people, I've seen it happen before. But if you have faith in her, then I'm sure she'll be fine." Yugi said. Poppy's content smile faded slightly as she watched Yugi slowly pull himself up and off the bed. For a second it looked as if he would be fine, before his knee's gave out and he was forced to lean against the bed to stand.

"Well, that was unexpected." Yugi said with a toothless grin, slowly straightening against the bed with one hand, another pressed flat against his forehead, as if trying to keep it steady. "I haven't felt his exhausted in years."

Poppy snorted as she moved to steady Yugi herself, wanting nothing more than to push him back onto the bed were he belonged. "Of course your exhausted, you've been unconscious for just under a week and haven't eaten a bite the entire time."

Yugi chuckled, move his hand up of the bed. His knees threatened violently to buckle underneath him as Yugi transitioned his grip from the bed to Poppy's forearm. "Yes, that does make sense. I feel like I could eat a horse... or maybe five. After I'm done here, food is most definitely on the agenda."

"What do you plan on doing?" Albus asked as Poppy lead Yugi over to where Minerva was moving.

Yugi groaned when he finally made it over to Minerva's bed side, and he collapsed bonelessly onto the mattress, barely able to find the energy to pick himself back up into a sitting position. "Mou Hitori no Boku and my magics are polar opposites. They tend to negate each other out when they come into contact with each other. It's the only way I can think of to finish a dark game that's in session."

Albus thought that over for a second, before his eyes drew to the slim piece of metal around Yugi's neck. "While i will admit I do not understand the full logistics of the item around your neck, but will this not impede you from whatever it is you plan on doing?"

"Probably..." Yugi replied simply, reaching a finger up to the collar, hissing as his probing finger tip came into contact with the damaged skin. "As far as I can tell this thing does impedes my magic, how I am not sure. However impedes is the key word, for despite some... discomfort it does not block everything, I should have enough to be able to do this."

"Or," Poppy jumped in, "we can wait. Serverus is currently making the strongest corrosive he can make. That should be enough to eat through the collar. It should be ready in an 1hour."

Yugi shook his head, "We don't have an hour I'm afraid. We're already wasted enough time as it is. If you want your friend to survive this with her mind intact, You'll have to let me do this; and to do that, I'll need the puzzle. I'm going to need the help to do this, and its the only thing I have to focus my magic with."

Albus hesitated, casting his gaze from Minerva, to the Puzzle, to Yugi. Could he really trust the young man with the item that had caused all of their problems in the first place? Yugi seemed sincere, yes, willing to help. However, Yami had no idea what was going on inside the boys head, he had been slammed out with barriers stronger than even Tom Riddle's had been. Could he in concision trust someone so shielded?

Did he really have a choice? Yugi appeared to be the only one who understood this magic, had the slightest idea how to get Minerva to wake up. The boy had shown nothing but good intent, he almost seemed to radiate the feeling.

With a flick of Albus's wand the puzzle fell from the sky, and straight into Yugi's awaiting arms. Yugi's eyes fluttered close as he pulled the puzzle close to his body. The soothing, pulsing heat of the puzzle felt so good through the bandages, and Yugi curled around it more as he felt his mind reconnect with the vessel of Yami's soul. With hands that shook with excitement as Yugi lifted the chain from the puzzle and let it fall over top of his head, coming to rest around his neck where it belonged.

The glow from the centre eye grew brighter as the puzzle settled back into it's normal spot on Yugi's chest. It's presence filled Yugi with soothing comfort, he felt at peace once more. Digging into the bond he shared with the item, Yugi almost moaned with pleasure as he felt his own magic merge and combine with that of the puzzle.

Yugi wasted no time as he cupped the puzzle in his palm, covering the eye with his thumb. Poppy and Albus watched in amazement as a soft white glow erupted over his hand. Yugi winced, crying out in pain as his free hand flew up to the collar, which had started to hum. The white glow flickered, fading into non existence before starting up once again. The colour started to drain from Yugi's face, and he started to shake from the pain. This time when the light of Yugi's hand disappeared, the returning flow was almost invisible.

"Yugi, stop!" Poppy yelled, "If this is going to hurt you this much, then stop. We'll figure out another way."

Yugi shook his head, "No..." he panted, squeezing his eyes tight, "This is the only way. My dark is the one who caused this, it's my responsibility to set things right."

The glow on Yugi's hand lit up once more, brighter than before. Yugi bit his lip as the Collar started to hum once more, but he stood his ground. The light did not flicker, instead it spread to his other hand, which Yugi gently placed over top of Minerva's closed eyelids. The light bathed Minerva's face, giving it an almost celestial glow. Yugi smiled, even through the searing pain spreading through his neck.

"Ready or not, Mou Hitori no Boku, here I come."