Author's Note: I'm not the original writer of this work. I have gotten permission to rewrite this work from the original author. Please read the original and give credit to u/564370/ (Laryna6)

"At last! I've got the final piece!" Yuugi thought excitedly. "I'm finally going to be able to complete the Millennium Puzzle! I might even get my wish." Yuugi laughed to himself before giving off a soft, disappointed sigh. "Who am I kidding? I'm just an ordinary kid. There's no such thing as magic, no matter what Grandpa says." As Yuugi's hands brushed over the etchings on the puzzle box, he muttered the translations. "'The one who solves he puzzle shall gain the powers and knowledge of darkness…' Yeah right."

"Still… Finally solving it after eight years… I have a right to be excited, but…" He looked down at the tears and the unfortunate dark stains on his uniform. He softly sighed. "It won't make a difference. Ushio will still be there in the morning. I'm still going to be his pincushion. I still don't have anyone but Anzu on my side. Yet… Something tells me this is important…"

His eyes travelled to the puzzle again. He felt hope, anticipation, and a sense of something monumental about to happen. Something that would change his life forever. The puzzle and its legend seemed to offer him everything he had ever dreamed of. Success… Friendship…

He felt a breath build up. He had been holding it for longer than he had noticed. He finally exhaled as he placed the last piece in.

It hurt.

It hurt so bad.

He ached.

He hurt all over from old wounds being reopened over and over in the struggle to free himself from the freezing chains, but nothing was colder than the shadows that surrounded him. His mouth was open, ready to scream so hard he could choke up blood, but nothing seemed to come out.

How long had it been? He had no idea. He had no time to question it as his body was in constant agony.

But then, through some miracle, the pain went away. The holes in his body closed as the chains painlessly ejected themselves. A warm, radiating light come from a far tunnel, and came closer. He was finally awake from a never-ending nightmare. As he awoke, as a glorious presence enveloped his entire being. The last thing he felt was an intangible feeling of wonder and worship, but even that turned into a cold, bitter anger.

Not at the light. No, never at the light…

Yuugi yawned and stretched in bed. "6:14? I should get up, shouldn't I? Ah, but it's so warm… I feel like I'm… still asleep…"

A sudden cold rush of wind hit Yuugi right then and there, causing the young boy to jump. Now, sufficiently awake from the cold, noticed his blanket had been kicked off during the night, and the window was wide open by his desk. "Funny. I could have sworn I closed the window."

Despite the inconsistency of his memories, Yuugi felt a sudden instance of happiness. He recognized it as foreign from his own feelings, but oddly welcomed it. As he went to close the window, he hummed a tune softly, and felt the foreign feeling come closer, almost as if he was nuzzled close to him, then softly subsided. Seemed to be asleep.

As Yuugi's mind began to wander in its presence, his alarm clock rang loudly. He quickly hit the buttons, not wanting to wake whatever he was feeling. "This isn't me. I'm not feeling these."

As he thought this, the sleeping presence took a deep breath and sighed in confirmation, snuggling closer still.

"Another person? In my head? That's crazy, isn't it? But… Oddly comforting. I know I'm safe, and not crazy. Then again… A crazy person wouldn't think they're crazy right? Not a good sign… Or maybe I'm over thinking?" His thoughts we cut short as he felt something heavy hit his chest and instinctively reached to grab it. As he pulled on a cord, he remembered what it was.

"The Millennium Puzzle! That's right! I solved it!" He laughed as he held it in his hands.

He felt a soft acknowledgement inside, but slowly fades. Whatever was in his head, it fell deeper asleep as Yuugi became more alert. Yuugi quickly shot a questioning emotion at what he felt and received a sudden burst of happiness and affection before sleepiness. Whatever it was, it was fully asleep now, and Yuugi couldn't feel it anymore.

Yuugi furrowed his brows as he thought. "It's a person. It must be, right? It feels really human-like. He also feels so smart and nice. Is this the friend I wished for? If so, then… We'll never be apart… Right?" He smiled at the idea of having a best friend he could depend on.

"Yuugi! Hurry up! You're going to be late!" His grandfather called from downstairs.

"Coming!" Yuugi responded, quickly going to his closet to dress himself. As he buttoned up his white undershirt, he remembered. "Ushio." The uttering of his name was quiet, almost barely there. His felt the color drain from his face as he slid on his top layer.

As he felt the first waves of panic, he felt the presence in his head jolt awake. A fierce protective energy and a determination to destroy whatever had caused the light in his life, his precious light, any pain. Despite the negative energy running though this presence, Yuugi felt safe. He felt tired again, wondering what it could be.

After feeling that Yuugi felt safe, the presence felt amusement and satisfaction before curling up and going back to sleep. Feeling the energy coming back to him, Yuugi felt certain that he wasn't in danger. How he knew this, and why is was so certain, he didn't know. He just knew that whatever had taken residence in his mind wouldn't let anything happen.

I ran down the stairs, skipping steps as he did.

Grandpa looked at Yuugi with a hint of surprise. "My, you're cheerful today, aren't you Yuugi. Did you sort things out last night? You came back pretty late."

"What?" Yuugi hadn't gone out last night. He fell asleep after finishing the puzzle, didn't he? But didn't he wake up on his bed? He waved it off, thinking it must have something to do with the person he kept feeling in the morning. "Oh, things went fine. Everything's cool now." Yuugi said, in a hurry. He had to cover for the person for now, until he knew what was going on, even if he had no idea what he did.

Yuugi was almost late, spending too much time being enveloped in the other person's protective spirit. Nothing could top the joy he felt from him. No grades, no bullies, nothing. It felt like a warm hug.

He did, however, made it just in time to see the crowd standing around something rather interesting. There were shouts from a familiar voice from the other side. "Oh no… Ushio…"

As Yuugi pushed his way through the crowd, he found Ushio rolling in a pile of leaves.

"Money! Lovely money! So much, and it's all mine! I'm rich! I'm filthy rich!" Ushio said, running the leaves over his face, leaving a mark dirt. He looked like he hadn't slept either, from the circles under his eyes.

"He thinks the leaves are money" Yuugi overheard a young girl behind him mumble. "Not just leaves, there's trash in there too" another girl giggled. Just as she said that, Yuugi turned to see a crushed can bounce over Ushio's uniform, staining it.

Yuugi was shocked and, quite frankly, a tad disgusted with the behavior. He felt the presence in his head again, and it was looking at Ushio too. The presence turned back to Yuugi and gave a feeling that Yuugi could only interpret as a smile, despite it not being physical. It gave Yuugi a feeling of satisfaction and reassurance before subsiding.

"Well…" Yuugi started, "He did want money. Now he has all the money he wants. It's not like he's hurt or anything, unlike what he did to Jounouchi, Honda, and me. It's fair." Yuugi hoped it wouldn't last forever though, just until Ushio was sick of his greed.

He smiled at the person inside him and felt him stretch in its sleep. As the presence moved, Yuugi felt his eyes droop a little.

"Oh… I get it. He goes to sleep when I'm awake. That's why he can't talk to me, right?" With that, Yuugi sighed with relief. "I was worried that he didn't want to talk to me, or worse, he couldn't. Kinda wish he left a note…"

As the day went on, Yuugi tried to wake the person up. He tried anything from mentally nudging him to imagining himself cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling, but only got sleep in return. It was mildly irritating. At some point, Yuugi got fed up and just crossed his arms.

At that moment, the presence came back. He tossed and turned. Was there something wrong? Was he in danger? Who hurt him?

Yuugi then perked up and quickly sent the presence the thought of writing a note. The other person was surprised to find Yuugi was just fine and expressed mild annoyance, but quickly was suppressed, and an apology followed.

Yuugi yawned. "It's alright, when you write the note, tell me your name, okay?"

The presence agreed, but felt a sudden wave of exhaustion come over him. Yuugi almost laughed. It was a tired little thing, wasn't he?

Yuugi felt a hand grab his shoulder and spun him around, panic filling him. Whatever was in his head was instantly wide awake, and Yuugi slipped into the darkness.

A moment later, before fully slipping away, the presence called his attention again, sharing a feeling of anticipation.

Yuugi returned to the front and saw Jounouchi. He looked rather shy, unlike his usual abrasive self. "Yeah?" Yuugi asked, a bit hesitant. He was usually afraid of Jounouchi, since he usually teased him. Nothing too mean, he thought, but still something he didn't really like. Then again, of the other person trusted him, then Yuugi should too, right? He seemed to not want Yuugi hurt, so he would never leave him in danger.

"Um, Yuugi, got somethin' for ya." Jounouchi said, scratching the back of his head. Yuugi hesitated to ask what it was, "You gotta guess. It's a riddle like that puzzle thing ya got. What's somethin' that can't be seen, but only shown?" Jounouchi's face flushed up a little, not really believing he was doing this right now.

"Um… I don't know. What is it?" Yuugi knew this was out of character for Jounouchi. A riddle from him? Crazy talk.

"Some puzzle master you are, can't believe ya can't figure it out!" Jounouchi teased. "Come one! It's friendship Yuugi. We're friends now. You, me, Honda, and eh, Anzu can tag along too if she forgives us for… ya know… lookin'. Whatever. See ya after class?"

Before Yuugi could respond, Jounouchi looked to the ground and ran off. His school shoe even came off as he dashed away, missing Yuugi's head by barely an inch.

"Jounouchi! Your shoe! You left your shoe!" Yuugi cried, running behind his new-found friend.