spiritfire: Hello...damn classes...read...

XLVII. Resolve

Who am I?

What is my purpose?

Where do I start?

Which path I should take?

- - -

Yugi's eyes fluttered open and looked at his surroundings. From the looks of it, he was lying on a wooden floor wrapped in a blanket. A young lady wearing a black dress and a long red bandana tied on her head was pouring something. She walked to him and stare.

"You're up," she said as she gave the beverage to the teen. "Careful, its hot."

Yugi stood up but not actually standing up (more on sitting down) and took the beverage then he blew the smoke emitting from it. He took a sip and felt good.

"It was good," Yugi commented. "Very relaxing. By the way, how did I end up here?"

"One of our guardians fought you and noticed a bit odd and also we found some 'stooges'." she said and doors opened revealing Ed and Joey.

"Yugi, you're alright!" Joey said, relief was written all over him.

"So you're up," said a familiar voice. All heads turned around as two men entered the room and bowing to the young lady.

"Miss Anna, is there anything else you like to assign us?" Kantaro asked.

"No not in particular but..." Anna said when her sentence was cut short.

"You're not human are you?" Yugi blurted. Joey and Ed stared at the spiky-haired teen. Kantaro stared in shock so did Haruka. Anna stared.

"How did you know?" she asked.

Yugi closed his eyes then stared at Haruka. Joey and Ed stared in shock for the teen's eyes turned silver. Anna for the first time stared in shock as she felt something cold.

"I don't know, I just feel it and tell me if I wrong or anything but you're a tengu - a demon eating celestial." Yugi said, while staring at Haruka.

Everyone fell silent and the teen stared at the floor. He has no idea how the hell he knew it. And didn't the emotion seal just went a little berserk. Come to think of it, the seal did have cracks and ever since that seal came, his life never did the same. Like when Yami----wait a minute...Yami... From what he can remember about the seal, Marik said that the seal holds off any positive emotion. What's going here?

"Hey, what's the ruckus?" said a voice and all heads turned to someone. A teenager with short brown hair, has two bangs form the left and right side of his face, Apparently, he was more interested on how did Yugi knew that one of the guardians is not actually human. Next to him was another teenager with light blur spiky hair wearing a bandana and has black eyes. His height is bit shorter than the other guy.

"So we have some guests? A dog, a small monkey and...a kid..." he said in a teasing tone. Joey and Ed were ready to pound him.

"Who are you calling a dog?" Joey growled in anger.

"Who are you calling a small monkey that can't pound a fistful of rocks hah?!?" Ed said angrily as he grabbed the teen's legs and using it as a baseball bat. Everyone sweatdropped except Joey cheering for Ed and Yugi who sighed. While Ed is busy, Anna saw something on the spiky-haired teen's neck. She stared for a moment then for some reason. she recognized it.

"What's wrong?" asked the brown haired teen. Anna simply pointed it with her eyes and he just simply smiled.

"That seal on your neck, it's the emotion seal, right?" he said with a carefree grin. Joey and the others stared at the spiky-haired teen.

"Emotion seal?" Kantaro questioned.

Haruka went near Yugi and spotterd the seal. "Don't tell me you're-----"

His sentence was cut short when Magician Valkyria appeared aimong her staff at Haruka's neck. Kantaro was worried, Joey only shrugged, Ed stared in shock. Anna and Yoh didn't care.

"Lay a finger on Master and I'll beat you up!" Valkyria growled, pointing the sharp edges of the staff at the tengu's neck. Yoh on the other hand stepped forward and laid his finger on the edges.

"We're not gonna harm your master. I assure you," Yoh said with a carefree grin. "So please put down your weapon."

Valkyria stared at him for a moment then she lowered her weapon and stared at Yugi. The teen seemed to be shaken in fear as the events before he ended up here were flashing before in his very mind.

Haruka spread his black wings and began to attack Yugi. The teen stared at him then all of a sudden, Yami's picture was plastered in his mind and also the day he confessed his feelings to him. the emotion seal went berserk and cracks began to appear as the memories of him began to torment him inside his mind, heart and soul. Those black wings and that brave face even his eyes, it reminded him too much.

Everyone in this room went quiet. There's too many questions that anyone would ask and none would think that they wouldn't know. Yugi can't understand the situation he was in considering the fact he was in a insightful situation. Of course, he owe everyone in the room a big fat explanation.

"Okay...would you mind tell me how did you know all this?" Yugi asked.

"To answer your question, I suggest you cool yourself down at the Meditation Springs. Yoh will show you the way," Anna replied. "Oh and before I forget, spirits are not allowed inside."

With that in mind, the spiky-haired teen summoned everyone and also gave the Key to Joey who has no idea what's going on here but he took it anyway. Yugi and Yoh left the others and on their way to the Meditation Springs.

- - -

With Yoh leading the way, Yugi didn't find this hard to get by. The wind began to blew a gentle breeze which soothes the teen a lot. Yoh noticed this but paid no mind. Just as they arrived, a sharp spear emerged from the bushes which both of them ducked.

"Settle down, it's me!" he said, whoever he was speaking.

"Oh, I thought it was those nasty little sprites again!" said a voice as he came out from the bushes.

"...What is he? A caveman?" Yugi asked skeptically.

"I beg your pardon...I'm absolutely NOT a caveman except for Horohoro." he replied angrily. Yugi sweatdropped and Yoh laughed a bit.

"Okay, Ren..." Yoh said and the one called Ren settled down.

"So who is this young lad?" Ren asked. From the looks of him, he was nearly Yugi's age and wore a sleeveless Chinse shirt, balck pants(not leather) and Chinese shoes. He has yellow eyes and violet hair. Well the only exception of his hair was: there was one spiky violet hair.

"A guest. Anna told me to lead him to the Meditation Springs," Yoh said. "Oh I forgot what's your name?"

Ren slapped his face in embrassment and began lecturing Yoh about having no manners. Yoh on the other hand just listened and nodded.

"Um, my name is ...Yugi." the spiky-haired teen said.

"Okay, enough introductions, we're near the Meditation Springs." Yoh said as he push Yugi leaving Ren behind.

"You're weird." Yugi commented.

"And you're way too serious and emotionally cold!" Yoh countered as they arrived at the bamboo platform.

"After I opened this, the Meditation Springs is there. From here, you have to go alone. Whatever doubts your mind, settle it now." Yoh said as he pushed a few bamboos aside. Yugi entered the place and some kind of fog appeared. As he looked a little closer, there was a spring apparently so he tok off his shoes and as he was about to take off his upper clothing, the water immediately took him. The teen tried to struggle but for some reason, it dragged him down a bit further then everything went black.

- - -

At the Lunarian Continent, Yugi's eyes fluttered open and to his surprise, he was at the Lunar Castle. Apparently, he was in some kind of room then the door slowly opened . Yugi's first instinct was to hide but it was too late. To his surprise, the person didn't see him so he sighed in relief.

"Your highness, how long are you gonna sulk in there? His Majesty is worried about you!" said a servant.

"I don't care. leave me alone!" Yami said coldly then in an instant he leaped through the window and left the castle. Yugi decided to follow him and and anyway, he has no choice. The prince exited the castle and used a teleportation spell to leave the continent. To Yugi, it was the first time he seen him using such an advanced spell. Unfortunately, he has no idea where he went now where is he supposed to go...so he left the continent and went through all the places he went but before he can go anywhere else, he decided to explore the Forest of Despair before seeing Kaiba again.

"I wonder how many days, months or years it has been..." Yugi wondered and stopped by at Mahad's grave to pray then left.

Arriving at the continent of Altech, Kaiba has been studying hard...more than ever and rarely spends his time with his younger brother. Nothing has changed except the 'rarely-spend his timewith Mokuba' so he knew they would mange. As Yugi left, Rinoa noticed an odd air passing by. She looked outside and saw nothing.

Yugi felt free since he came here and by accident, he slipped but he wasn't wounded. Odd, first no one can see him and now he doesn't have any wounds or cuts. he realized that he was in spirit form and then remembers what happened to him.

Yugi was about to take off his clothes when the water suddenly dragged him down. As the teen went further, he heard a voice saying that his mind must clear all doubt and so he will be placed on light's continent. From here no pain will be inflicted on him even the emotion seal so he'll become a free spirited being. After that,everything went black.

"I see...light's continent is the Lunarian continent but what am I supposed to do there," Yugi frowned. "Remove my doubts???"

Yugi was now on his way to Kingheartia as he tries to figure out what he was supposed to do here. As he entered the castle, he refreshes his memory when Yami had his confession here. He had to admit, it was really awkward. Thank god, his mom palced a temporary hold on the seal that time then Sora saw everything and ended up getting burned well not literally.

"Well, if it isn't Yugi..what brings you back here." said a familiar voice which startled the teen. Turning around, he saw the Keyblade Elite: Riku.

"Ri-ri-riku, you can see me!" Yugi gasped in shock.

"Duh!?," Riku replied as if it wasn't obvious.

"Damn, I thought no one can see me in this form. Probably because he already encountered this or he has high spiritual power." Yugi mumbled.

"Anyway, what are you doing here? I don't think you're here for a visit let alone being transparent." Riku asked.

"To tell you the truth, I really don't know," Yugi replied with contemplation. "I can only guess that I'm here for a reason. That's what I think."

"Hmmm, is it by any chance that you want to hear about His Highness?" Riku asked skeptically.

"What do you mean?" Yugi replied.

"It's been five months since you left and His Highness has locked himself in his room. He's in a state of confusion lately that he won't come out except meals only." Riku replied sternly.

"Are you sure? 'Cause when I came to the Luanrian Castle, his servant told him that His Majesty is worried and that rhen he left the castle and used a teleportation spell." Yugi said.

"Oh." Riku said when all of a sudden his Keyblade appeared and went a little berserk then it pointed something out there.

"It's pointing at the desert continent. but why?" Yugi frowned.

"I don't know but I think you shouold go there at least that's what my keyblade would want to think," Riku said. "I'm sure he's there."

Yugi fell silent then stared. "Riku, this converstion...never happened."

"Agreed." the silver-haired teen nodded.

- - -

Being in spirit form was much easier for travel conviences and besides, you don't get to do that everyday of your life. Yugi was enjoying this as he crossed through the desert till he reached the ruined palace. As he entered the place, he heard voices. Phasing through the wall, he saw the original and replica apparently thue're...arguing.

"Who are you? Why do I exist and why bother use a replica spell?" Yami asked angrily.

"Why should I care? You're a nobody. Nothing more than a mere clone and you disgusts me...falling in love with that 'human'. You already ate my existence." Atemu replied, feeling disgusted.

"I'm not a replica! I'm human, I'm real!!!" Yami yelled angrily.

"Yeah, right and I'm a speck of a whore. You're pathetic!" Atemu countered.

"Shut up!" Yami growled.

"If you want to prove yourself, show it..that you're existence is worth living. That you can stand up on your own." Atemu said and the prince fell silent.

"If I do that, you're existence..." Yami stared.

"Yes, you will become me and I'll become you asa if I was ncver dead." Atemu said. "That is if you can do it with your resolve."

"If that's the case, prepare to die!" Yami declared and the Millennium Puzzle appeared.

"You may have the Puzzle but I have my powers and six of the items at my arsenal!" the pharoah countered as all six Millennium itemsa appeared.

- - -

Original and replica began to cast spells at each other and neither of them would budge an inch. Even the power of their respective items would even made a clash. On the further side, Yugi was watching and besides, it would be better not to interfere. Atemu began to gather energy for his powerful spell.

"Maelstorm!" Atemu chanted and churning waters appeared at the bottom causing a thyphoon that suck Yami at the middle and blasting him everywhere. "How Pathetic!"

Yami staggered a bit but he can't give not like this,"Majestic Judgement!"

Unfortunately, the pharaoh knew he would use that spell so he began to counterattack by using the Millennium Scales' power. The said item glowed in radiance and all of a sudden a barrier, much stronger than Yugi's Protera magic was in the way. The spell dissiapted and Atemu added a lightning spell.

"Maggot! It's futile to try. I can predict your moves at the back of my hand so long as I have these items in my arsenal!" the pharoah said as the Millennium Necklace and a round object with an eye for its center.

Yami wouldn't listened so he kept casting his own spells not that he can fight but Atemu predicted ever move he will make regardless of the usage. Yugi sighed at this. He knew that it would be useless to fight if your opponent can predict your movements so why bother watching this pathetic fight. After several hits, both of them were staggering even though the pharoah has the advantage.

"Enough! Let's end this!" Atemu said as he gathered energy once more so did Yami.

"Grand Cross!" Atemu yelled.

"Apocalypse!" Yami yelled.

The two spells began to collide that it exploded. Yugi can barely see who would be left standing and wondered what happened to them. The explosion began to lift slowly and to his surprise, Atemu's spirit form began to fade slowly and Yami had irregular breathing and brely can stand up. Yugi couldn't believe it though.

"So the replica has beaten the original. Figures, I guess it's over." Atemu said, smiling. "By the way, your little friend is here watching our little fiasco."

Yami turned around and saw the spiky-haired teen. Both of them are staring at each other as the pharaoh began to fade. For the first time, none of them said a word. That would be the case of every aspect that both of them would place. Atemu's spirit form finally dissipate and whatever left's has finally entered inside the prince.

spiritfire: sigh this is almost done...I'll get busy during my bahelor's thesis so I guess that's that...