"Thanks to the puzzle, I've got the friend I always wanted. No more, no less." Yuugi mused to himself. "I've got someone who'll care for me, enough to place my welfare over his own. I'm so lucky!"

He sent this feeling of joy to his guardian and felt a warmth and closeness in response.

"What're you smiling 'bout Yug?" Jounouchi asked, teasing his friend. "You and Anzu… Ya know…" He nudged Yuugi's ribs.

"Wha-, no! Nothing like that!" Yuugi replied, face flushing up. He didn't want to tell anyone about this person yet. They might think he was losing it, and after finally making a real friend, he didn't want to risk it. Worse, even if they did believe him, he didn't want anyone thinking this presence was dangerous and taking him away. He'd only known this person for a few days, but somehow the thought of being separated, not feeling that presence, not feeling that warmth and joy protecting him, it felt like a nightmare. The anxiety caused the presence to wake up. It attempted to reassure him that everything would be okay, but Yuugi could feel what it felt.

He could feel it was terrified of the idea.

In an attempt to calm it, Yuugi grasped for a new topic. Anything would be okay. "So, did you watch that tape?"

"Yup! But, y'know, they've got all the good stuff censored. Frustrating as sh-" Jounouchi cut off his swear. "Bet you still wanna see, you dog!"

"Huh?" Yuugi was lost inside again. While the presence couldn't physically touch him, sometimes it felt too real. He almost staggered a few times at the feeling of strong arms holding him tight, a chin resting against his shoulder, a warm check against his neck. Heat rushed to his face.

"I said, do ya want the tape? Jeez what is with you today? You're in dreamland." Before Yuugi could respond, Jounouchi brushed it off.

"Uh… yeah sure. I'll have to hide it from Grandpa, and I'll have to wait until he's out of the house to watch it, so it might be a while until you get it back." This was only half a truth though. While, yes, he did have to hide it from his Grandpa, that wasn't entirely the reason. He spent most of his free time lately trying to communicate with the new guardian he had. Before, he was able to call it out with strong emotions, but after a while, it learned Yuugi was faking it. It also refused to take over like he did the night they first met. Yuugi poked at it, frustrated, but only got back feelings of apology along with… determination? Yuugi couldn't tell.

"Sure, makes se- Is that a van?" Jounouchi almost stopped in his tracks. "That's… that's a TV van! What's it doing?" His pace slowed down as he thought. "Maybe… There's a star here! Yug, look through the glass!"

A star? That was crazy talk. Why would a star be at their school? Yuugi decided to humor his friend for a moment and attempted to peek through the glass. "Sorry… I think it's one way glass. Can't see a thing."

Yuugi couldn't see anything, but someone else did. "Him… He's perfect."

Anzu scoffed at Jounouchi. "A star? In Domino High, Ridiculous." He was planning to sell pictures for extra cash.

"Why does he want this extra money so bad?" Yuugi thought to himself. Sure, after school jobs were against the rules but Jounouchi… wasn't one to follow rules to say the least.

Before Yuugi could object, he was already being dragged by Jounouchi on his quest to find the star. Yuugi tried to suggest other reasons for the van to be outside their school, but eventually, Jounouchi got fed up with it and went of on his own.

The resulting sadness called upon the guardian. It gave Yuugi a warm embrace and leaned onto him before falling asleep on him. "He's much more active than he was at first. Is he getting stronger? Maybe we can talk soon… But how can we talk if he's asleep?"

He poked at it, hoping to wake it up, but only got an apologetic squeeze and a feeling of minor frustration, not at Yuugi, but at… something else. His weakness? "Is he worried that if he writes me the note, he won't the strength to protect me when I need it? Protecting me… It seems to be his top priority. It's no nice that he cares." Yuugi noticed he was softly humming to himself, but quickly stopped himself. Someone might think it was weird.

"Yuugi!" A voice called out, unfamiliar to him.

Yuugi jumped. When he turned, he found a pretty big guy. "A third-year? He looks like a university student. What would a third-year want with him? Why does third-year even know me?" Yuugi felt anxiety bubbling inside him, but quickly calmed down. His protector wouldn't let anything happen to him. He hugged it, reassuring him he would be fine and felt it sigh in relief and fall asleep once again.

"Heard you and your friend was looking for the new transfer student. Rumor has it she's a star." The older student smiled and put his hands in his pockets.

"So it's true? Can I meet her? Jounouchi and I would love to see who it is!" Yuugi almost bounced.

"Yeah, I already told Jounouchi. See you during lunch then, behind the school?"

"Of course!" Yuugi answered. The larger student walked off, chuckling to himself… This was too easy…

"Here I am and, oh there he is! But where's the st-" Yuugi's thought was cut short at the swing of the older student's arm. The guardian awoke immediately and smiled. "Hope he isn't too hard on the guy…" Yuugi let himself fall into the darkness.

The guardian parried the oncoming blows. "You'll have to do better than that." He chuckled.

"What the HELL are you doing?" Jounouchi ran in from behind, slamming into the student and knocking him to the ground.

"Yes, what are you doing?" The guardian asked, smirking condescendingly at the figure laid in front of him.

The man on the ground sniveled. "I-I didn't want to! Honestly! T-the director-"

"Director?" Jounouchi echoed. The guardian closed his eyes and echoed it as well, checking Yuugi's memories, looking for any mention of a director. Before he could find anything, he heard a voice from behind a bush. "Cut! Cut! Good, good."

"Ah, someone wants to play with my Savior and entertain others with his suffering?" The guardian smirked as the shadows danced around him, eager to lend their powers to their commander. "Yes, a punishment is in order. We've already defeated his champion, the one he sent to fight for him. I would say he's already lost the Game." Ideas ran through his head, each seeming more promising than the last.

Meanwhile, Jounouchi had attempted to brawl with the director, but lost, beaten on tape.

The guardian narrowed his eyes in the direction of the camera, causing it to explode.

"What the fu-" The director said, trailing off in shock. The dark entity glared at the cameraman, taking a single step towards him. That was all it took for both the cameraman and the actor dressed as a student to dash away. "Wise ones, recognizing that staying would mean doom." The guardian chuckled as he turned his attention to the director. "Now… as for you."

The director took a step back. "Escaping? I'm so dearly sorry, I really am, but I can't let you do that." With a flick of his wrist, shadows shot at his victim, ensnaring his limbs.

"What the hell are you?" The director whispered. His voice refused to speak any louder.

"I could say your worst nightmare, but, frankly, that's a bit cliché, don't you think? In reality, I'm probably much worse than that." He smiled, letting every word drip with venom. The smile faded into a stern face. "You attempted to harm my Savior for your personal gain and I can't tolerate that. You've also harmed this young soul, a brave young man and a friend of my Lord."

He walked over to Jounouchi, who had been knocked out. The guardian snapped his fingers, letting a light shoot from his fingertips and onto the figure before him.

"Wha-... What did my dad do…?" As he sat up, he began to recollect his bearings. "Where am I?" He opened his eyes and focused on the hand held out in front of him. "Yug…?" Accepting the hand, he was helped up. He began to remember what had happened.

The guardian asked a question, and he answered. "Yeah, I'm fine Yug." At that moment, he finally got a good look at his friend. A small jump from shock resulted. This… wasn't Yuugi. His eyes were red, like a demon. He stood up straight, confident. He almost looked taller. "Who the hell…"

The red eyed boy winked and smiled before nodding his head to the side. Jounouchi followed, finding the director tied. "Oh… cool." The director was tied up… somehow. The ropes looked more like dark clouds, complete with small cracks of thunder. The director's mouth was wide, but no sounds came from it. "What… What did you do?"

"I'm simply holding him while his fate is decided. Well?"

"Well what?"

"What should we do with him? He has trespassed the souls of both you and my Savior. I've sworn to protect him. Since you were also a part of this, I believe it is only just that you also have a voice in his punishment. What do you think is a proper reward for attempting to profit from the suffering and pain of others?"

"Wait, who-"

"Quickly, or I will decide myself. I don't have much time here."

"Oh- well… uh" Jounouchi thought hard. Was he really doing to punish a man? "Since he's a video guy, he makes money from what he sees, right? If he were blind-" He stopped himself. No, this Yuugi look alike wouldn't blind anyone, right? How would he even-

"A good decision." He turned to the director. "Hear the divine punishment! For making others see the world through false lens," he smirked, his eye glowing as he looked down. "All you see will be digitized!" His hair flew back, revealing a golden eye glowing on his forehead. The same image came from his hand as he outstretched it to his victim.

The shadows let the man go. As he fell, he fell to his knees, screaming. "Return home. When the evil in your heart is banished, when you cease to treat others as actors you control, your sight will return." His voice, soft like silk, but deadly, continued. "If you seek revenge, or order others to seek it for you… far worse will befall you. Now go!"

The director ran off, bumping into nearby objects as he went. As he faded from view, the boy slumped, but quickly sprang back to life. "Wait!"

"W-what is it?" Jounouchi was quite confused. What was going on? He wasn't quite the fan of curses, and this doppelganger was not Yuugi. And what was with this Savior and Lord stuff?

"I almost forgot! Thank goodness, I remembered. My Savior would have been so unhappy with me." The boy before him, he seemed like a demon just moments ago, looked like a child. He began to search his pockets. He grasped a pen. "Ah! Perfect!" He quickly turned to Jounouchi. "I am sorry to be a bother, but might you have a sheet of paper on you?" He looked to the ground, hiding his embarrassed grin.

"Uh… Sorry, but no." Jounouchi couldn't help but feel some sort of confusion. This kid looked almost… cute?

"Drat… And I shouldn't use any more of my powers… I can't summon one. I'm sure we'd be stopped by a teacher if I were to look for one." The boy began to pace back and forth. He turned to Jounouchi. "Could you do me a favor?"

"I guess? I owe you for getting that creep. What is it?"

"Can you take a message to Lord Yuugi? I asked me to leave a note next time I took over telling him who I am and the like, but I don't seem to have any paper." The boy smiled, embarrassed.

"Hold on! Who are you anyway? If you answer some questions, I'll tell Yug what you said." Jounouchi offered. "Where's Yuugi? How do you know him?"

"He's here, asleep." The boy pointed to himself. "That's the problem. Right now, we only have enough energy between us for one person to be awake. That'll change as we get stronger, but right now, if I wake up, the master falls asleep. I'm usually asleep in his place. I don't like being awake. It's his body and his energy, and I wouldn't be serving him well if I was living his life for him." The boy laughed sorrowfully. "That would be rather inconvenient for him. The Lord's been waiting for me to wake up so I could write the letter since we can't talk yet, and now…" He ran a hand through his hair, letting the golden forelocks fall in front of his face. "If I had just done what he asked, I would be at a desk with plenty of paper…" With a sigh, the look-alike shrugged. "Oh well…"

"What are you, and what've ya got to do with Yuugi? Clearly, you're not him."

"My Lord is the one who freed me, and out of gratitude and admiration, I've sworn to serve him o the best of my abilities for the rest of his life. I also have you to thank." The guardian bowed. "If not for you returning the puzzle piece, he would have not be able to solve the puzzle and free me. Thank you, and you have my protection for that, as well as for being a friend of the Lord." Jounouchi looked away. If he never too the puzzle piece in the first place, there'd be no reason to give it back. He just hoped this wild card didn't remember that small detail. He snapped back to reality when he heard the voice of the guardian. "If I am ever able to do you a service," he said, straightening up from his bow, "Is there anything? Perhaps I can do it later."

"Uh… yeah… later…" Jounouchi cleared his throat. "So, uh, what were ya doing in a puzzle?"

"I don't recall. The puzzle's power stripped me of my memories. All I remember is being trapped inside before the Lord freed me. It was…" The young boy looked down and paused, his breath picking up the pace. He could almost feel it again. The chains, so cold, ripping through his flesh. He freezing air, the pain… so much pain… "Unpleasant…"

Jounouchi reached out a hand to comfort the young boy, but didn't know how. He seemed to be in so much pain suddenly. He could see the shallow breathing. The boy's eyes were wide with a sort of primal fear Jounouchi never thought he would see on Yuugi's face. He hopes to never see it again. "It's fine, you don't have to explain i-"

"I owe My Lord everything." The guardian spoke in almost a whisper, trying to calm himself down from the racing memories. He looked backup, and saw Jounouchi's face. Was that concern? Surely for his Savior, it must be. "I would never harm him, if that's what concerns you."

Jounouchi opened his mouth to ask if he was okay, but was cut off. "Oh! Yes, My Lord specifically wanted to know my name: I am so sorry, but I don't seem to remember having one. Anything he wishes to call me is fine." The guardian thought about being named. Any name his Savior would give him will be treasured. A new man will finally be born, and will live and die working his Lord. He almost smiled at the thought before bringing his attention to the blond. "Can you think of anything My Lord might wish to know? I really should go to rest now, it wouldn't do him well to miss class for me."

"I can't think of anything now. Can I talk to Yuugi now? Ya know, before I forget?" Jounouchi didn't know how this worked, but he needed to tell Yuugi everything.

"Of course." Another bow was given. "I am now in your debt, Jounouchi, sir. Thank you for helping me fulfill My Lord's request." As he finished his line, the boy closed his eyes and slowed his breathing, trying to call Yuugi back.

"Uh… you're welcome?" By the time he was half way through his sentence, the boy's eyes opened, showing Yuugi's usual violet eyes.

"Huh... "Yuugi looked around, seeing his friend. "Jou…?" After fully waking up, Yuugi almost jumped. "N-nevermind!" He began fishing through his pockets, hoping to find a note. "Where is it… Where where where?"

"Yug? I think ya got yourself a spirit on your hands." Jounouchi interjected.

"You spoke to him? Who is he? What's he like? What's his voice sound like? Where's the note? Did he forget?" Questions flew from Yuugi faster than Jounouchi could comprehend. The taller friend placed his hands on the smaller boy's shoulders, hoping to slow him down.

"He almost forgot, but when he remembered, he couldn't find paper, so he asked me to tell you as much as he could think of."

"Well?" Yuugi began to bounce in place. He could barely contain himself. Finally, some communication!

"Well, he says he came from the puzzle. When you finished it, you freed him from some sort of prison or curse or something. When he takes over, you kinda go to sleep, and he does the same when you're awake."

"Did he tell you his name? I really wanna know."

"He said he doesn't have one. He said you can call him anything you want. He also calls you his Lord? It's kinda weird…" Jounouchi's nose scrunched up at the memories of Yuugi being called a lord. What was with that anyway?

"Lord… no no that's no good… I want to be his friend, not own him…" Yuugi frowned. "Did he say anything about when we could talk to each other? I don't want me being in danger to be the only time we get to communicate…"

"He said something about getting stronger but…"

"But what?"

"Is he really good? I mean, he was nice and all, he thanked me for…" Jounouchi stopped himself before revealing that he found the last puzzle piece, revealing that he may or may not have taken it in the first place. "... Something… and for being your friends, but his could be dangerous. We might need to find someone."

"Jou!" Yuugi protested.

"Well, things like this, possessing people and whatnot, they're usually demons."

"He's not like that!" Yuugi clutched his puzzle protectively. "He's nice… and sweet… I can feel it." Yuugi ran his fingers over the bumps and ridges of the puzzle. "I feel what he feels all the time, and all he wants to do is protect me and make me happy." The puzzle felt cold, almost like ice. Yuugi then remembered the torture and pain it caused his guardian. "I could never send him back Jou! I'd never do that to him! He… he has nightmares about what it's like in there…" Tears almost came to his eyes. The guardian tried to send him comfort, but was too tired to do anything to help. "Even now, inside, he's trying to make me happy…"

Jounouchi thought that if something wanted to trap him in the puzzle, it must have been bad, but he remembered the tough guardian show his moment weakness. No, not remembered, it felt more than that. Like the memory of seeing such a terrifying being show fragility and fear was stuck in his head. He decided not to press further.

Yuugi paced around. Jounouchi almost laughed at the sight. Despite the two Yuugis being so different, the seemed to share little traits, and pacing seemed to be one of them. "Does he remember anything besides his name?"

"He said the puzzle stole his memories. He looked…" The memory came back. "Haunted by it…"

"Poor thing…" Yuugi sighed and began running his fingers over the puzzle again. "It was really cruel to him…" After a moment, Yuugi's head shot back up. "Can you keep this a secret? At least for now?"

"Wha- why?" This was a big deal, how could Yuugi keep something like this a secret?

"Well, Anzu and Honda might think we were pulling their legs think I going bonkers if we told them I have a ghost with me now. They might ask for proof, and he's really exhausted now." Yuugi yawned, almost as if to punctuate his statement. "I am too."

"He said something about power, like that he'd summon up a paper or something, but it'd need too much energy. Wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't' for what he just did."

He could summon things? "That's amazing! What did he do?" Yuugi was bouncing again.

"He healed me after I got knocked into next Sunday, tied up the guy who attacked you, and… made a guy go blind. Like, for real. It was terrifying." Jounouchi paled at the recollection of shadow roped. "O-or it would have been, to someone not as brave as me, obviously."

"Yeah, he did something to Ushio, but I didn't think it involved actual magic! Besides, I don't think he'd hurt me or anyone I cared about. And you said he likes you, right? You don't have to worry." Yuugi felt the presence give him a warm internal thank you. Yuugi closed his eyes and hummed, taking in the feeling.

Jounouchi looked at him. What was he doing? "Um…"

Yuugi opened up his eyes and flushed up. Oh, sorry. I do that when I'm focusing on him. He feels really happy right now, and the feeling kinda bleeds into my feelings sometimes." Yuugi closed his eyes again before the bell rang.

"Oh shoot… We better get to class." With a small bounce, Yuugi began to dash to the school. "Come one Jou!"

"Hold up, I'm comin'!" Jounouchi wasn't going to let this kid out of his sight. He may trust this guy, but Jounouchi has seen one too many horror movies to know where this was going, and he wasn't going to let his new friend get hurt. Plus, he felt like it was somewhat his fault for giving Yuugi the last piece of the puzzle anyway, so if anything happened, it was on his hands.

"Yug. Still want the tape?" Jounouchi pulled out a VHS tape with a blank cover.

"Tape?"

"Yeah, the one with the censored bits. Or were ya too zoned out?"

"Oh, that one! Yeah, thanks!"

As Yuugi reached for the tape, Anzu quickly scooped it up. Knowing exactly what it was, she teased the boys. "Oh, what's this? A good movie? I'll be borrowing that." She rolled her eyes. Can't believe they were doing this is plain sight, these fools.

"H-hey! Give it back!" The boys followed after her, trying to take the film back.

Author's note

Some fans of the old fic might have noticed that I began using the phrases "Lord" and "Savior" instead of "master." This is just a personal preference, since Yami tends to see Yuugi as some sort of godly figure after being saved, and I felt these terms fit that sentiment a little better. I also feel sort of weird using Japanese honorifics or terms in an English fic, so for consistency sake, I'm trying my best to keep things strictly English.

Once again, thank you Laryna6 for letting me rewrite this fic, it means the world to me to take such a great concept and be able to have my own take on it.