The irony of this story is that I've finished writing the next chapter but I forgot this chapter. That's why it hasn't been updated. I'm really really sorry for the delay—I forgot Nakago made a comeback here! Oh well, hope this chapter works for you.

ThePinkMartini: Well, I can't really say anything much about the new Emperor, except that he's a cutie. :)

LeeRaRa: Oh, hopefully this chapter will answer your questions, well, not all but at least some. :)

Disclaimer: FY and YGO are not mine.


Two Faces but One Soul

By Slavedriver2008

Yui placed a hand on her former warrior's forehead. The fever had subsided and his face was now calm, a far cry from the way it contorted in pain a few hours ago. Blood no longer flowed lavishly from his stomach and all traces of the red liquid had been wiped clean from his skin. She slowly fingered the sunshine golden fringes that framed his handsome face, smiling to herself. She had never seen him sleep before. In her memories, it was always him who watched her sleep. He turned his head briefly, following the tips of her fingers and she wanted to laugh—Nakago was never this much in need of comfort.

"You should go to sleep, no da. The fever is almost gone." She turned toward the fire and Chichiri's smiling face greeted her view. He was watching her and her cheeks brightened a little. "If it would make you more comfortable, you can wash by the river again, no da."

Yui nodded and slowly stood up. "I should at least wash my hands and my face. Please do look after him while I'm gone," she told the monk and he nodded, smiling wide.

"Nothing will happen to him while I'm here, no da. You should now take care of yourself."

With a sigh, Yui walked away from the fire, clutching the robe tighter as the night's coldness seeped through the thin fabric. The events that happened were a blur, like a fast-forward movie. Nakago had arrived after she took a bath, bloodied and weak. In desperation, she had asked the monk to save him. And because Chichiri used his powers, he was a little frail as well. They were literally in a bad state and if enemies attacked them tonight, anything can happen.

But Yui doesn't want to think about the dangers that lie ahead. Instead, she wanted to think of Nakago and the gentle way he slept. Never in her wildest dreams could she imagine watching over him, taking care of a bloodied shogun.

I am not Nakago…

His words continued to repeat itself in her head. He said so himself, he was not her warrior yet whenever she looks at him, she sees the leader of her seishis. Everything about him was the same, the eyes, the stand, the voice—but he seemed to lack one thing. He lacked the memories of who she was, who they were, what they had done. Nakago was reborn with the same face but he does not have same memories like hers.

Yui was not stupid; she knew he could be the demon's way of slowing their journey. But even though everything conspired to that fact, she could not bring herself to leave the man. A part of her wanted to save him, to give him a new life. But deep inside, she knew she was making a mistake. It makes her happy, being with him, she told herself. Even if it ended as a mistake, nothing can take away the fact that she felt light in his arms and his lips send the same intensity throughout her body.

She doesn't want to over-analyze things anymore. The only thing she knew was that he no longer bore the same mark. He no longer has the same grudge, no longer eager to kill and have his revenge. As hard as it may be to swallow, the Nakago she had now was a reformed and new man. She liked that.

"How's your warrior?" Seto asked sarcastically and her thoughts returned to him, to the man who inherited Nakago's mark. "It's surprising that you finally found it in yourself to leave him."

"What are you driving at?" she asked. They were standing near the banks of the river and the full moon casted a shadow on the dark surface.

"You shouldn't have taken him into our camp. He's an enemy—he'll probably slash our throats once we fall asleep," he breathed out, obviously angry. He tried to keep his voice down but Yui knew he will let out a shout if the conversation continued.

"He needed help," she answered and his brows creased.

"He tried to kill you," he pointed out. She looked back surprised. How did he know Nakago wanted her dead when they first met?

"He's a different man—"

"He's dangerous," he cut her statement and Yui annoyingly stepped toward him.

"He's my warrior," she breathed out angrily, trying to maintain her voice. She was wary Chichiri would hear them and it scared her a bit. "He needs me."

Seto's jaws clenched and he sighed heavily. Their eyes met and she saw anger in them. "I am also your warrior. I also need you."

Her eyes widened and she backed a little. "Seto… You're not—"

"I have Seiryuu's mark. Isn't that enough proof? Tell me, Yui. Why do you care so much for him? Are you in love with a character in a book?" he asked venomously. She stared back with brows creased. He fingered her chin and she pushed his hand away.

"What if I am?" she asked angrily, still trying to whisper. "I've waited for him for so long. I've always blamed myself for not being able to save him." Her chest tightened as her eyes misted a little. "I left this world loving him. Can you blame me for still feeling the same way?"

Seto closed his eyes and when he opened them, he gently cupped her cheek and kissed her. She gasped but instead of moving away, Yui closed her eyes and let him explore her mouth. Her whole body was burning and each movement made her felt dazed and intoxicated. She reached to touch his face, fingering the gentle skin on his jaw and neck. Her fingers clutched his hair when their tongues lapped against each other and a moan left her when he started to trace the roof of her mouth. All reason dissolved and the only thing she wanted was to touch him, for the kiss to continue, to be in his arms. It was… amazing.

Slowly, he moved away and her she was heaving hard into his mouth. He pulled her closer, wrapping his strong arms around her. "What am I Yui?" Her eyes widened as she stared into his soft blue eyes. "If you love him, what do you feel for me? Am I merely a man to fill his spot when he's gone?"

"Seto…"

He gently let go, stepping back and turning away, regretting what he did, what he said. "This book is driving me to do insane things," he said in a stern voice. "It's putting words into my mouth," he reasoned and Yui blinked repeatedly, confused. "I didn't mean what I said. I didn't intend to kiss you either." After kissing her, he suddenly took everything back. How can he…?

"You don't have to explain," she answered, slightly angry. She shook her head to get back to her old self. "I was a little too emotional, I think." He sharply turned and before she could say more, he walked back toward the fire.

When he left, she fell on the ground, knees shaking. Yui rubbed her face to clear the effect of the kiss but she could not resist remembering it. She touched her lips, her whole face burning. She liked it, she liked every part of it. It happened so fast but it felt like it lasted forever. Nobody kissed her that way before, it made her feel… loved.

"I see the new man had caught the miko's fancy," a cold voice teased and she turned, finding her former warrior Tomo standing a few feet away.

"Tomo," she said, surprised. She stood up and turned to him, nervously stepping back.

"Ah, you recognized me. Too bad Nakago doesn't remember you at all." She frowned and a force enveloped her, stopping her from moving.

"What are you planning to do?" she asked.

"I just want a word with you, that's all," he said, smirking. "I just want to know who you're going to choose between them…" Yui raised an eyebrow and the performer smirked. "Is it the man who bore Seiryuu's mark or the man who has Nakago's body. Body or soul, which is it?"

"What?"

"Ah, you're not aware?" He walked toward her and cupped her face. "Your beloved Nakago lost his soul and it became a new man," he breathed out and her eyes widened. "But it cannot live for long away from its original body and the body cannot live without the soul…"

"What do you mean…?"

"Simple, it's up to you to decide who to keep, priestess." His hand tightened on her neck and she winced. "Are you choosing Nakago or the other one? If you choose one, the other will disappear. You can only have one warrior, priestess. Tell me, who do you want to keep?" His nails dug on her neck and she choked.

"Let go of me—"

"If you don't choose, you'll lose both. Sad isn't it? Time is not in your side, miko." A shrill laughter left him and thunder broke from the sky, hitting their camp. Yui's eyes widened but she could not move. "How I'd love to kill you now—" A familiar force sent Tomo flying away and Yui gagged when she was finally free of his grasp.

An arm wrapped around her shoulder and she doesn't have to turn to recognize Seto using Nakago's power. "Nakago and Chichiri—" Another thunder broke from the sky, hitting their camp. Seto wrapped an arm around her, covering her from the light. He put up a shield around them as she strongly held to him.

"Damn, we can't even rest without them showing up," Seto cursed as the light slowly disappeared. He used his powers to put a barrier between them and Tomo. "Come out, blue eyes white dragon," he called and the card on his robe glimmered. Slowly, it transformed into a real white dragon with blue eyes. It flew in the sky and Seto stood watching it, captivated that it transformed far from its usual form.

"SETO!" Yui screamed before a force hit them and they flew back into the river. The dragon scooped them before they hit the waters and they lay down on its back. Every part of his body hurt and Yui forced herself up, looking down on him. "We have to go back, Chichiri and Nakago—"

Seto steered the dragon in his head and they flew back to camp, evading the bolts of thunder that erupted from the sky. His powers were weakening and if they don't escape soon, they will become dead meat. The mark glimmered furiously on his head, hurting him more as the power of the god of the east flowed mercilessly over his body.

"Yui!" Chichiri appeared before them behind the dragon and Seto mustered all his strength to steer them away from the two warriors. "Demons attacked us below and Nakago was captured. I'm sorry I couldn't save him, no da."

"I'm glad you're okay, Chichiri." Seto fell down, screaming from the pain. "Seto—what's wrong?" He slowly released the power and the mark slowly faded on his forehead. "Chichiri-san…"

"He used too much of the power he can wield, no da." Chichiri placed a hand on the younger man's forehead. The mark on his knee shone bright red and slowly, Seto calmed down. "So this is the limit of his power, to summon a heavenly beast," the monk said. They flew farther and farther away from the camp where Nakago was again held captive by the warriors who used to be loyal to him. "His soul seems to be weakening too…"

"Chichiri… Tomo told me startling things…" She softly told the monk what the illusionist told him and he nodded, taking in what he said. Her gaze landed on the younger man, peacefully sleeping as they move on with their escape. The thought of choosing between them was insane. Not when her heart wanted them both alive.

"I have heard of an occurrence before within the Genbu shinchiseishis. One mark was found in the forehead of twin boys and to see the full mark, they have to be together. But I have never heard of a soul departing from a body, no da." The monk sighed. "And they are in different worlds, no da."

"I don't want to chose," Yui said sternly.

"We'll find a way so you won't, no da… but prepare yourself for the worst, Yui…" The monk took out an ointment from his pockets and handed it to her. "Use this to heal your wounds. Seto might also need it. It's the same ones I used on Nakago, no da." At the mention of her warrior's name, Yui became lonelier. "He was awake when they attacked and we successfully evaded the lighting," Chichiri said. Yui looked up and the monk smiled. "He called you the moment he opened his eyes. I must say he is indeed a different man than the one we met years and years ago, no da."

"But where is he?" she asked, looking back on the camp they left behind.

"The lightning made a cage around him, no da. I didn't know Soi is capable of controlling that much power," the monk told her. "We can't go back now, Yui. We have to continue to the capital of Kutou," he said and she nodded.

Her eyes scanned the starlit sky and the world below it, moving her eyes over the tips of trees and the silhouette of mountains from where they came. The blue river glimmered in the night, reflecting the skies in a tranquil manner, as if no attack took place within its borders. Yui sighed an turned toward Seto's sleeping form. She gently opened the ointment and spread it on his skin, at the cuts and bruises. She fingered his forehead, where the mark shone as bright as daylight earlier. She stared at him as the dragon carried them away from the other warriors.

After a few more minutes of aimless flying, the dragon slowly glided down on top of a hill. Seto opened his eyes and she assisted him down. Once they were on the ground, the dragon slowly transformed back to a card, flying into Seto's waiting arm. He slowly let go of her and tucked the card inside his robe, not saying more.

"I will set wards, no da. So I'll know if someone comes close. I will be back, no da." Chichiri disappeared and Yui turned to him. He turned away and sat down at the other side of the hill, rubbing his forehead.

Seto felt weak, too weak that he could not summon the power again. Since he entered the book, he had been feeling weaker and weaker. The amount of power he had used tonight was still not enough to fully save them but his body could not take additional doses anymore. The more he took it, the more he tried to control it, the more his body hurt and failed. His muscles were losing its strength and he didn't like it one bit.

He was busy watching his hands when she sat beside him on the grass. He didn't turn and instead looked away. She turned to him, looking intently. "Seto…"

"Hmmm…?"

"Do you love me?" She asked and he smirked, shaking his head. He could not believe that she was asking him point-blank such a question. He already denied any emotions but why does she have to insist? "I want to fall in love with you," she whispered and he turned, surprised. A sad smile left her. Instead of meeting his gaze, she looked down.

"What's… stopping you...?" he asked, looking away. A heavy sigh left her.

"I am… I have so many issues I want to deal with. My heart had been broken and I feel I'm not ready to give it away—again." Another sigh left her. "I did things I shouldn't have, I hurt people, I… I don't think I deserve to be loved… I don't think I deserve you…" Tears fell from her eyes and he gently cupped her cheek, planting a soft kiss on her lips. It warmed him and he could have repeated it over and over again.

He liked the feel of her lips, soft and warm and comforting. "Does it hurt…?" She looked quizzically and he looked intently at her pale blue eyes. "When I kiss you, what do you feel?"

A blush formed on her face and she leaned down to hide her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, hesitantly running his fingers on her long blonde hair. "Warm… Seto's lips are very warm…"

"Comforting?" he asked in a whisper, earning a small nod from her. "Then I shall kiss Yui until the pain goes away…" she gasped and looked up to him. He silenced her with a finger, slowly lining the lines of her beautiful sweet mouth. "You can give me your decision when this is over but for now… I will wait…"


A/N: I know some parts didn't make much sense. Gomenasai! But I'm glad to be finally over this chapter. This is by far the hardest to write in this story. Whew!