INTERLUDE – YAMI

Yami hasn't been aware for long, hiding just beneath the surface of Yugi's mind for some time. He came out initially when Yugi was in trouble, enacting justice against those who wronged Yugi with his Games of Darkness. Yami became much more aware during the situation with Kaiba and Yugi's grandfather. That's when they met her initially. Their original interactions with the Kaiba siblings were just with Seto and his younger brother, Mokuba.

When they met her, they were both surprised. She was a gentler sibling to the two. Quiet, demure in ways, with a sense of justice that raged in her veins, begging to be released. A bit of a kindred spirit to Yugi in ways. Yami could see some similarities between her and his partner.

Her presence was a surprise, but when she came down to lecture her siblings on what they'd done to Yugi's grandfather, Yugi and Yami knew they could trust her. It was a feeling that couldn't quite be explained or described.

When they found out that Yugi's grandfather's medical bill was being paid by the Kaibas, it was immediately clear who had put it on their bill. It made Yugi slightly upset, but Yami could see the justice in it.

They forgot all about the sibling in the shadows after that, until they met Mokuba during the tournament at Pegasus' island. The story that Mokuba weaved for them was haunting, pulling at all their heartstrings and left them in various states of distress.

Mokuba spoke of a sister who had done her best to protect him, but had become separated from her after their kidnapping and drugging. Mokuba was frantic, more so in concern for his sister than for his brother, which seemed out of character. He was hesitant to explain more until Yugi's friends integrated him more into their group throughout the period of time they were together. While short, they learned things they hadn't known before.

Hana, was the name of the elusive sibling. She was home schooled, and generally very protected by the brothers. Mokuba spoke briefly of a hint of a darker history behind the girl, one that he didn't explain, nor seemed to be fully aware of, if Yami had read the boy correctly.

For some reason, the brothers felt Hana needed protection.

They lost track of Mokuba after that duel, to their deepest regrets. When they ran into Seto, he seemed more frazzled than usual. There were cracks in his indifferent façade. Once again, Yami understood the unspoken: there's more to this story.

The subsequent loss of Seto and Mokuba's soul was unfortunate, but what was worse were the implications in the words Pegasus said, and Yami and Yugi's duel against Pegasus. It was clear that Hana was not being held anywhere nearby from what Mokuba had said, and reading between the lines of Pegasus' words.

It was also a horrible shock to realize that the female Kaiba sibling had her soul spared, but that was not necessarily comforting. The group quietly agonized over the loss of the various souls during their adventure, as well as over the missing presence of the sister. It was disturbing to think that it would have been more comforting that Hana would have been better off without her soul in retrospect.

When Honda, Bakura and Anzu appeared during Yugi's duel with Pegasus carrying the unconscious body of Hana, there was a brief panic. Jonouchi, being an older brother himself, seemed to be unsure of what to do, but suffering from the similarities between his sister and Hana. While not many, Jonouchi could not deny Hana needed the help and protection of an older brother, where hers was absent.

As the group fretted, Pegasus had taken a moment to frown at the group of teens, a glint in his one eye that forced a reluctant shudder down the shared back of Yami and Yugi. His words weren't better. He spoke of the powers bestowed upon him by his Millenium Eye, and recent knowledge he'd gained. No matter how much Yami needled at the man, however, he wouldn't explain.

When Yami beat him at the duel, Pegasus didn't seem surprised. The man instead approached Yami and Yugi of his own volition, stating that he'd release the souls he'd stolen and willingly offered his fake eye to them. His explanation was that Yami could keep it safer than he could, and it would be required in the future.

His words cryptic, and his actions contrary to what they had been. Yugi thought perhaps Pegasus had repented. Yami's partner was still suspicious, but hopeful. Yami didn't agree.

The final awakening of the female Kaiba sibling had an unease settle amongst the group. Her words not better. Yami felt himself paying more attention to her words, despite his partner being in control of the body. From where he stood next to Yugi in the helicopter, he watched the energy-depleted girl as she struggled to stay conscious and shivered intermittently.

He briefly clenched his fist at her suffering but eventually found himself back in his soul room lost in his thoughts.

When Mokuba ran into the game shop a few days later, talking about the danger the Kaibas were in once again, the plan was put into place to have Hana come to the game shop. Yugi's grandfather would hide her and keep her safe. What they didn't expect, was for the girl to be waiting for them at their destination, making demands and forcing her way into their rescue.

Yami watched her with her deck throughout the virtual world, eyeing her as she wielded her duel monsters with confidence and took on danger unflinchingly that her brothers desperately tried to shield her from. He found himself wondering what the brothers were worried about; she seemed strong, if not physically then mentally and willfully. She had a strong deck from what he could see of Magicians. She knew her cards fairly well, and seemed to be relying on the Heart of the Cards whether she knew of it or called it that.

When she allowed herself to be kidnapped, Yami felt a brief panic, but she seemed calm as it happened, and from the explanation of the princess, it was planned. Yami settled then, allowing Yugi to continue in the virtual world. Once again, Hana had proven her fortitude and strength.

Yami took over between her kidnapping and her reappearing with her saved brother. He felt the unease that had lingered release upon seeing her unharmed. She summoned a dragon, which was entirely unexpected from an all-magician deck that they'd seen so far.

The eldest Kaiba sibling allowed his pride to take over, and despite Yami's warnings, it cost Hana's life. She proved her willfulness once again when she protected her brother unflinchingly. The raw emotion on Seto's face, the shaking in his body and the scream he unleashed that tore through his throat made Yami shudder and briefly turn away from the sight. Instead he focused on taking down the Big Five.

Hana was brought back not long after, and Seto went back to an almost indifferent response. He could see the weight in Hana's shoulders at how he treated her. She invited them back for a cake she called tiramisu, something none of them had had before. They were hesitant to intrude in the Kaiba mansion, but her excitement and energy was contagious and the group were excited for free dessert.

Yugi had eaten the cake, and Yami could sense the feedback of the taste in a lessened amount as he watched Hana smile happily at the chaos in the kitchen. He realized then that the puzzle pieces that were floating in his mind came together to paint a picture: Hana was lonely, and she was attempting to make friends by baking for them.

He wondered if she'd ever had friends other than her brothers, as smothered as she was in the mansion being home-schooled. The more he watched, the more he realized that she was simply happy bringing pleasure to others. She didn't eat her cake, instead making sure everyone had enough. Seto was a dampener on the mood, and Yami could see the line in her shoulders once again, but it disappeared after Seto had left.

The cake had been a hit with the group and Yami desired to taste it for himself. Yugi encouraged him to request a piece for himself. He told the group of friends that he'd be back, and headed back inside the mansion. The loud moan as he entered the kitchen took him by surprise and he felt even Yugi's discomfort at the noise as he flushed crimson to the roots of his hair. Yugi dived back into the puzzle at seeing Hana's embarrassed face.

He was surprised when she saw through his request, handing him two pieces of cake with a wink. No one had spoken to her about Yugi and Yami being separate. Was she aware?

They were contacted not long after by Mokuba. Seto had challenged Hana to a duel. The group was excited and was happy to cheer her on.

Her first move was interesting, but gave another view into her deck. Looking past her flushed and embarrassed state, Yami realized then that her deck was prepared and mobilized around the usage of Dark Magician Girl, not magicians in general. He moved closer to her side to see her cards, and saw a strong hand. He was shocked to see a Dark Magician in her hand as well, but with a Dark Magician Girl deck, it would be smart to put a Dark Magician in there.

Each move was well-calculated, but Yami noticed she'd not utilized her Magician of Dark Illusion. She was very anxious up there on the podium and hesitant to do damage to her brother. He briefly wondered if she'd not utilized her Magician of Dark Illusion for that reason, but disregarded it. Yami could see the reason behind the duel. Seto Kaiba loved his siblings, no one could deny that. However, he also respected a good duelist who could put him on the ropes. In a way, the eldest Kaiba sibling was trying to see if his sister had a mind for strategy.

And from what Yami could see, she did. Not only that, but she was persistent and calculated.

She had a good start and had gotten Seto down to 50 life points before he demolished her with a well-used trap card. He could see that this outcome was what she expected, although she was disappointed in herself.

She'd done well, Seto even saying so, looking very proud as he offered – threatened – training in duel monsters.

More pieces to the puzzle fit together after the duel; Hana Kaiba was a gentle girl, but with justice brimming just beneath the surface of her hard skin. Her brothers had little faith in her, however, treating her more fragile. They were starting to be aware of her potential, but were just scratching the surface.

Yami saw something different in her: an old soul, someone who would do anything for those she loved and unwavering in the face of danger. He realized then she was a bit more of a mixture of both Yugi and Yami.

The group talked a lot about the duel afterwards. Jonouchi had focused on her almost beating her elder sibling, Anzu speaking about her Magician Girl deck and her strength, Honda quietly admiring her challenging her brother and Yugi speaking about the strategies. What Yami focused on was the memory of her eyes staring hard at her brother as she attacked him directly. The red in her face, her weak legs, and breathlessness as she came down from rush of being in her first duel.

There was more to her, he knew. Some story from the hint of Mokuba's words and the brothers' behaviors. He wanted to challenge her to a duel to test her himself. Yami was surprised when he understood he wanted to know more about her, and when she haunted him while he tried to meditate in his mind room.