N/A: Um. Well. I'm not dead? I dug out a good portion of this chapter from an old writing binder. Decided to sort-of edit and finish it. And continue. Why? Because actuary exams are hard. And fan fiction is fun. Yes?
Enjoy horrible old writing!
Chapter Two - Separate But Not Apart
Yuugi to Yami
Yami to Yuugi
"Atemu Yami, Slytherin. Mutou Yuugi, Gryffindor."
Both Yami and Yuugi had remained frozen, simply staring at each other. The other students in the Great Hall had started whispering, murmuring about the flash of light turning the single transfer student into two nearly identical individuals. The professors turned to the Headmaster for guidance, having never seen anything of the sort during their combined tenures. Dumbledore simply showed his usual smile before motioning to Minerva to continue with sorting the first years.
"If you would, please—" Professor McGonagall stepped forward between the two still figures, picking up the Sorting Hat. "Mr. Atemu, your table is on the far left. Mr. Mutou, your table is on the right—"
"You can't separate us!" The taller of the two placed a hand on Minerva's robed shoulder. Before she could respond to the foreign student's rough action and words, the shorter boy put a hand on Yami's other hand still by his side.
"Yami—it's okay."
I am still here. You can still hear me, can't you?
The two mirror images were staring at each other again. Minerva felt the hand on her should drop away, and she saw a small smile form on the taller student's face.
Of course, aibou. But how have we been separated? How have I gained my own body? Was it caused by that hat that was speaking to us? Do you believe—
"Thank you, Mr. Mutou. Now please, if you two would…" Snapping out of thought, both Yami and Yuugi turned again to the motioning professor. Yuugi took the first step towards the long red table, letting go of Yami's hand.
We'll have to discuss this later. Let's just…go sit down.
Separately. Maybe I could ask if I can sit with—
Mou hitori no boku, no. I'll survive. For now, just…go sit down. I think you're supposed to be at the green table.
But I don't like green! And I don't want us too far apart! What if we lose the mind link? What if-?
"Mr. Atemu. Please." The professor had already called up the next student to be sorted, and Yami had yet to budge as Yuugi started to sit down at the decorated red table feet away. He tried to share a smile with his darkness, but his other self simply frowned as he walked even farther from his light.
I don't like this.
I know. We'll figure things out, okay? See, we can still hear each other! There's nothing worry about right this instant!
Yami sat down at the end of the table, next to a boy with platinum blonde hair. He still stared behind him towards Yuugi, not noticing that Draco next to him was scrutinizing him.
"You're not the one I met on the train, are you?" His statement earned him a glare from unfamiliar crimson eyes.
"No."
"So you're the one that Potter was bitching about! No doubt that you'll be perfect in Slytherin. But that other boy—" Draco turned to look at the Gryffindor table, glancing at the shorter version on the boy in front of him, "—he's definitely not a Slytherin. He looks like he's barely old enough to be out of diapers! And he was even pouting on the train when I brought up Potter…"
"Are you insulting my aibou?" Yami reached forward, as if to grab the Malfoy's robe and send him to the Shadow Realm.
"Your what? That little boy? No, no, no…just…admiring. Wouldn't have thought he would have been in Gryffindor, though. It's too bad…" Draco paid no mind to Yami before turning to the meal in front of him. Yami looked back at Yuugi again, who appeared to be talking with his new housemates. Worry flashed through the mind link, originating from his light's soul room.
Those guys you spoke with on the train are in Gryffindor. They think I'm you, and they still aren't…happy with the way you treated them.
What, that gawking red head and his jerk friend? They are in your house? No, this definitely will not work.
Just as Yami was about to stand up, a roar of applause echoed through the Great Hall and the elder sitting in the center of the front table stood up and approached to address the students. The stool used during the sorted started to shift and transformed into a great podium with an owl centerpiece speaker.
"Welcome—to both the new and old faces." The old man's twinkling eyes looked at both Yami and Yuugi in turn before continuing. "I am the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Though, that name is far too long, and I don't expect any of you to address me in such a formal manner…well! I believe we have been delayed long enough, so everyone please finish your meals and begin eating dessert! After we're done, the first years and our other new students should follow your heads of houses to your assigned house dormitories. Classes will begin tomorrow morning sharp, so don't get too lost before going to sleep!"
Yami stood up as the Headmaster turned to return to his seat. The seated students stared as the he began to approach the staff table just as Dumbledore sat back down and watched him over the rim of his spectacles.
Mou hitori no boku, what are you doing!
I don't trust anyone here. They cannot separate us.
Please, Yami, I don't think you should threaten them just because—
Just because what, hikari? Because the split us apart into two separate bodies? Because they "sorted" us into two separate houses and just expect us to go along for the ride? I'm not sure about you, aibou, but I'm tried of being told where to go, what to do, and how to do it. Nothing like this would have been expected from us if we were back in Japan, close to all of our friends and family…
But we're not! My grandfather is dead! My new family wants nothing to do with me! So we're stuck here, and I'm sorry Yami, and I don't want them to separate us anymore than you do, but please don't make this worse for us and make everyone here hate us!
I'm sorry, Yuugi.
"Headmaster?" The professors at the table all looked and stared at Yami. Professor McGonagall started to stand up to lead the new student back to his seat, but Dumbledore waved his hand at her and stood back up himself with a slip of a smile on his lips.
"Would you like to talk to me in a more private setting, Mr…?"
"Atemu, sir. Yes, I would appreciate that."
I'll talk with the headmaster, aibou. He seems reasonable. He should understand.
Just don't do anything…stupid, mou hitori no boku.
Me, stupid? When have I ever done anything stupid?
The small chuckle Yami received through the mind link was enough for him to smile. Dumbledore stood and walked towards a side door next to the professors' table. Yami turned to look back at Yuugi before tailing after the older man.
The door led to the kitchens, where several shorter creatures with long ears bustled about. Yami stared as one of the beings snapped and brought a pot of water to a rolling boil before returning his attention to the headmaster in front of him, whom had taken stolen a cherry off the top of an elaborate dessert sitting on the counter next to him and plopped it into his mouth.
"I apologize for my abruptness, but I wanted to request—"
"That you could stay with the other transfer student." Dumbledore gifted the starting Yami with another small smile as he pulled another cherry off of the cake. "I must say, I have never seen a sorting such as yours. Imagine, one body hosting two souls, and the sorting hat pulling them apart in order to sort them separately—fascinating. Though, I understand your concern, considering your previous circumstance of never being apart. I'd imagine you are still partially connected to Mr. Mutou though? Can you speak with him nonverbally? Or at least feel his presence?"
"How would you have known that? And yes, that is what I was hoping to request, if it necessary for us to remain separated."
"Oh…you want to be merged back together?"
Yami paused. 'Of course that's what I want, but what about Yuugi?'
Do you want us to remain separated? In two separate bodies?
I…don't know. I don't want to be separated from each other…but you've never had your own body before. This could be a good experience for you, to not be confined all of the time...
…I hadn't thought about that at all. All I thought was that I didn't want us to be separated.
Maybe we should…keep it this way? Just for a while? Stay simply separated, but not apart?
Yami tried not to feel hurt by his aibou's words, but a twinge in his chest made his body cringe and his eyes blink feverishly before returning to the present to the headmaster dragging the last cherry through the cream of the cake before devouring it.
"I guess…not yet. But I do want to stay close to Yuugi. I don't understand this assigned dormitories business, but it sounds like we won't be living in the same area."
"Your assumptions are correct. The Slytherin and Gryffindor dormitories are the farthest apart."
"Then I'd like to stay in the Gryffindor dorms with Yuugi." While Yami phrased his sentence as a request, there was no question behind his words. He planned to stay as close to his aibou as possible, rules be damned.
"I'm wouldn't advise you staying in the Gryffindor dormitories…it appears a few of our current Gryffindor students have already not taking a liking to you. Peculiar of Harry and his friends…"
"Then he can stay with me in the Slytherin dormitories."
"Also not wise, but probably more suitable. The Slytherin's dormitories are more spread out since they expand a majority of the dungeons, so we can arrange for you to have more private living quarters. I will speak to Professor Snape and McGonagall this evening to assure this accommodation. As for you separation from Mr. Mutou…" The headmaster placed a warm hand on Yami's shoulder and squeezed gently, "…I'm not sure what can be done to return you to your original state, if you ever choose to rejoin as one. If you do, you can speak with me again, and I will do my best to help you. Otherwise, I hope your stay here is as good as those cherries were!" With a twinkle and a smile, he disappeared back into the Great Hall.
The headmaster said you can stay with me in the Slytherin dormitories.
Please tell you did not threaten to send him to the Shadow Realm if he refused.
Oh, aibou, would I do something as vile as that?
Well, you were placed in Slytherin, which is meant for liars and killers according to Harry…
Liars and killers? Seriously? And who the hell is this Harry everyone keeps talking about?
Harry Potter. We met him on the train…the one that pointed his wand at you?
And you would take his word over our years together.
...I'll have to think about that one.
Aibou!
Yami reentered the Great Hall and sent a smile in his light's direction.
We will discuss these "views" later. For now, I believe the dessert with cherries should be good. The headmaster devoured one during our discussion.
Him, eating cake? Are the elderly supposed to eat that much sugar?
Probably not. But that large oaf seems to be enjoying it too. Dig in!
Yuugi looked up to the professors' table and saw Hagrid spooning mouthfuls of cake into his mouth and mustache. He cracked a smile and giggled, earning him another glare from the trio across from him.
"What you laughing at?" Yuugi stifled his glee and reached to cut himself a piece of cake.
"Are you making fun of Professor Hagrid? Of course you are, you arrogant snob."
"Xenophobia is expected, Harry. I'm sure he's never met a half giant before, have you Yuugi?" The frizzy head brunette gave Yuugi a small smile before elbowing the boy next to her. "And has it crossed your mind for a second that we were talking to Yami on the train and not Yuugi? After all, Yami was sorted into Slytherin, and Yuugi into Gryffindor."
"She's always one step ahead of us, isn't she mate?" The red head next to Harry shook his head and reached a hand forward, mirroring Hermione's gentle smile.
"Ron Weasley. And Harry's already…introduced himself. Surprised you haven't heard of him before, given his history with You-Know-Who…"
"No, who?" Yuugi looked between the three, cocking his head. "Am I supposed to know whom?"
"Oh! We don't normally speak his name…"
"Voldemort."
"Shut up, Harry!" Ron nudged his friend in the side, who growled in return.
"Will you two stop NUDGING ME!" Harry stood up, knocking his goblet of pumpkin juice over. Hermione gasped as Harry turned and walked away and out of the Great Hall with other exiting students.
"I swear! It is like he is PMSing this year (1)! Ron, have you noticed how weird Harry's been acting?"
"Yeah, Hermione…I'm not sure what's up with him. Maybe his aunt and uncle were worse than usual this summer. He'll snap out of it after a few days back home though." Ron also stood and reached out a hand to Yuugi.
"Sorry about our friend's behavior…he's generally friendlier than this. Though we did meet the other transfer student on the train?"
"Yes…that was Yami. Sorry about his behavior ealier…he's been stressed himself recently." Yuugi took the red head's hand before bowing his head.
"No worries! Harry will get over it. It was good to meet you. You can follow us to the Gryffindor dorms if you'd like?"
"Thank you, but I won't be staying there tonight." Hermione and Ron glanced at each other.
"Then where will you be sleeping…?"
"Yami spoke with the headmaster. I'll be staying with him in the Slytherin dorms."
"How do you know what they discussed? You haven't gone over to speak to Yami since they spoke. Unless…" Hermione stood up and leaned forward, dark brown eyes full of eagerness, "Do you two talk telepathically? Even from great distances?"
"Um…yes…?"
"Oh! We'll need to discuss this later! But I really need to go and finish reading tomorrow's lesson! I'm going to be a TA this semester!" Hermione flashed the small pin on her robes. Ron rolled his eyes before latching onto the brunette's arm and dragging her off.
"We'll see you tomorrow, Yuugi. Be careful in the Slytherin dorms. While Harry was being pissy tonight, he was right about one thing—Slytherins are no good. I know you probably trust Yami, given you used to be…one person, but he was sorted into Slytherin for a reason. And then there's Malfoy you should worry about. He's another breed of evil. Just, watch your back and come out in one piece?"
"Will do. Thanks, Ron, Hermione."
Just as the two Gryffindors left, Yami walked over from the Slytherin table, examining his aibou. He had seen his hikari in the mirror before, but never separately in the flesh—Yuugi was a few inches shorter than himself, and his hair less of a colorful mess, and his eyes seemed softer than his own, not only in shape but a warm color of amethyst, brimming with affection and affability.
"You ready, aibou?"
Yuugi looked up to his other self, also noticing the differences between them. He had never realized how intense his darkness's eyes were, the color of dark blood swirling with mischief. Yuugi nodded, taking Yami's elbow in his own with a grin.
"Always!"
Yami returned his aibou's smile, and the two followed the group of Slytherin first years out of the hall to the dungeons.
(1) So, taking place during Harry's 5th year. When he was definitely PMSing. Granted, that was partially Voldie's fault, but still...PMS.
N/A: I know, random, weird, poorly written, but I felt like it. I had written most of it a good eight years ago...I edited and updated a bit of it. Just felt like getting it posted. I have been reading more fan fiction recently than usual, my personal way of avoiding studying for my exams...
Given I continue to procrastinate, I will try to update some more. While I should be writing my own original fiction, I think fan fiction is a good starting pick-me-up since I'm way out of practice. If I could just describing people's eyes I could GET SOME WHERE!
Aherm. Sorry. Hope you enjoyed despite how horrible. I cleaned up some, but got lazy more than halfway through. Cleaning up 15-year-old Abby writing is hard. And not fun. Going forward will be new 23-year-old Abby writing. So much more doable. :)
Thanks!