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The Key of Ra	By : Lechan Category: Yu-Gi-Oh > General Views: 4696 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Chapter One: Visiting Grandpa
- 2-Chapter Two: The Hedge Maze
- 1
- 2
A.N. I return with Chapter two. I do
not own YuGiOh or the characters, and the songs I don�t own either. Blood Moon
is the one helping with the hieratic and Maggiemay�s fic Roses, inspired this.
^-^. So enough with my chatter. The Key of Ra!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: In the first chapter
I said that the hieratic was real, well first off I did mean to use the term
sekh shat though most wouldn�t understand that anyway, and also, I did not mean
that it is in proper grammatical form. My friend simply told me where to look
up words and helped me with some that I could not find, by looking in her
dictionary for me, that was where I got; akhu, mrwrt,
ari, and temti-t. I am by NO means a scholar on
ancient Egypt, just a fanfiction writer whose writing
for fun with the knowledge that I have and any help that may be given. Sorry if
I have offended you in any way with butchering the language or the historical
facts, but this is a fanfiction, not a history paper.
Sorry again, if this has left anyone sore. And for another note, I do not hide
my e-mail address for a reason: Flames hurt. Though it was meant to inform the
wording came across rather harshly, and just to avoid anymore confrontation
between reviews please send it to my e-mail address and I will respond with
respect, and am always open to correct so long as I am not being accused of a
crime. Tell me my mistakes, offer to help correct them and I will gladly
comply. Tell me I�m an idiot and a crook who is lying to people, and I will
generally ignore you and get pissed. I know that I am in no way a scholar nor a
linguist and understand how annoying something can be when tampered with, but,
one must also understand that this is FANFICTION, of an anime that is already
historically incorrect. So, anything I write in here is subject to question,
and SHOULD be questioned. I am no genius, nor do I pretend to be, so, here it
is. The words are truly Egyptian. Grammatically correct? Most likely not. But
until Blood Moon tells me other wise I will continue to use akhu in my story,
though out of respect for a scholar of AE I will not delete the review. Though
it would be nice to have an address or name to give credit to. Gomen Nasai.

Lechan

P.S. This chapter is dedicated to
Yuugi25. Thanks for the emotional boost! ^-^

Chapter Two: The Hedge Maze

A soft breeze drifted by, ruffling
his golden bangs and whistling through his ears. The rustling of the dark green
holly leaves sent a chill down his spine, causing Yugi to feel cold even though
the day was hot, dry, and unbearable. Yugi shifted on his feet, tugging on his
white tank top with nervous fingers.
His jean cut-off shorts, light,
faded, and blue, had strings that tickled his legs and he absently scratched at
the offending itch with the tip of his sneaker-ed foot. It certainly doesn�t look special. Yugi thought with annoyance,
that he was still standing before the opening to the maze like a frightened
animal.
The wind seemed to draw him inward,
pulling at him gently, coaxing him to take his first step. Yugi swallowed,
glancing back over his shoulder at the empty house. Sugoroku had left early
that morning, heading for town, most likely to visit Marik and Malik Yugi was
sure. He�d offered to take Yugi along, but Yugi had said no, insisting that he
was tired and simply wanted to relax inside, and explore the place a bit. That
seemed to make his grandfather happy, and the man left quickly, waving at Yugi
with a bright and hopeful smile.
Everyone
here is completely crazy, that or it�s all some big conspiracy that they are
hiding from me. Yugi laughed out right at his inane idea. Yeah, and mom�s Buda�s right hand servant.
The wind had settled and once again
the place took on the appearance of simple normalcy. Just a leafy game in the
bright sunshine of a summer day. Yugi smiled at the entrance, trying to imagine
that he was six once more. That his grandfather was slicing watermelon for
lunch and he was simply waiting for the call for him to come back in and eat. Yes, this is just like any other day. With
a nod Yugi stepped forward and through
the opening of the maze, and suddenly froze, eyes wide as a memory flashed
through his mind for a brief and exhilarating moment.

Night
air rushed in his ears blocking out all sounds aside from his ragged breath as
he shoved his way through the hedge maze opening. The sharp tips of the glossy
leaves, tore at his skin, breaking through it and causing blood to well up to
the surface. The small child choked back a sob, his hand deftly pressing
against the left wall following it to the center of the maze.

Yugi gasped, looking to his left at
the greenery that shone in the warm sunlight, glistening happily, looking about
as dangerous as a butterfly. Reaching out, he let his hand touch the
surprisingly chilled surface of the wall, and felt the sharp sting of the
needle like edges that clawed at the palm of his hand.
�Itai!� Yugi winced, yanking his
hand back and looking at the red scratch. �No wonder its so simple� you let
that touch you and you let yourself get ripped to shreds.� Yugi blinked once
more, his heart pounding desperately with in his chest. It was happening again.
The wind was calling to him, drifting up and under the hem of his shirt,
ghosting over his bare skin and making him shiver.
Yugi shook as a thought passed through his mind, one, that he
didn�t understand. Fear coursed through him a bit, but over ridding the fear
that should have paralyzed him, was a desperation Yugi couldn�t name. I want to go there� to the center. I want
to.
With a dry mouth and shaking hand, Yugi reached out and touched the
wall again, his fingertips stinging slightly as he stepped further in, allowing
his hand to drag over the spines carelessly.

His
hand tore open as he sped through the walls, blood coloring the dark leaves and
turning them an inky black. More sobs tore desperately from his chest, but not
for his hand, nor for the blood that rushed from his body, but for the pain
that strangled his heart, and the guilt of his crimes.
He
tripped into the bushes at a sharp turn and felt the skin of his knee peal back
as he fell against the graveled ground. He gasped out sobbing harshly his
bloodied palm helping him to push up and off of the gravel. His right hand,
desperately fisted, rubbed at his burning chest as he curled close, wanting to
die. The treasure he held in his hand bit into his palm and reminded the small
child of his hurry, and he stood on wobbly legs, blood drifting over his shin.
Black
shadows drifted closer, trying to blot him out of existence and Yugi froze for
but an instant, his fear coursing through him. �No! Yugi has to do this! Yugi
has to save him! Yugi can�t let her have it!� He broke into a dead run, his
broken palm painting the left wall again, the pain no longer felt, as silent
tears continued to make their way down his face.

Yugi made the first turn, following
the left wall, his hand barely ghosting over the leaves, not wanting to inflict
any injury to himself. It was slightly scary, being blocked by walls of deep
green, a small narrow hallway your only hope. Yugi�s adrenalin pumped harshly
through him, coaxing him on, excitement for the end of his trek speeding his
movements up until he fairly ran down the winding, graveled path.
Left, right, left, another left, a
sharp right, walls and pathways flew behind him as Yugi was dragged back into
his memories. He could feel his blood stain his short legs, the bitter tears on
his face, and the deep painful guilt that ate away at his insides slowly
devouring him. But why was I running?
Yugi froze dead in his tracks as he
met a dead end. His chest rose and fell quickly. Sweat ran off of his brow, and
trickled down his neck, causing the white material of his tank top to stick to
his small body, and cling to his slight, male curves.
The wind was dusty and hot, dry as
it filtered by. The sun, burning on his hair, heated his skin to uncomfortable
levels as he stood frozen, mind blank.
He was there.
Yugi�s breath felt heavy, the air
around him thick and laden with intensity. He could see the white marble of the
pedestal from the narrow opening to his right. He was but two steps from the
center, and now, of all times, his body refuses to move. Am I scared now? Yugi
questioned himself briefly, looking down at his feet, hands clenched at his
sides.
It was frightening, being surrounded
by tall thick walls of thorny holly, a single path your only doorway out, and
should it be following you, you had
to hurry before you got caught, praying that she won�t see you as you escape.
Yugi swallowed hard, his body still trembling lightly as an errant breeze
touched his heated skin, the cool brush suddenly dangerously chilling.
�Baka desu. I didn�t come here to
stare at the opening. I came to unravel this stupid mind game. So, lets get it
the hell over with!� Yugi said, his voice tight and higher pitched then usual,
killing the moral speech the moment he spoke the words.
With trembling legs, Yugi turned,
slowly extending a hand to the side of the entrance, his foot stepping through
and touching the other side with a soft tap. Yugi gasped, eyes widening as his
body stiffened, heart suddenly soaring in remembered fear.

He
smacked straight into the dead end, feeling the holly as it scratched up his
face and flew back from it with out even a gasp. The wind seemed to howl and
scream, giving speed to his pursuer. Not much time now, he was running out of
time, he had to hurry. The edges of the doorway ripped at his cotton nightclothes as he jumped through, the maze
making a soft hissing sound as he made his leap of faith.
She was on his tail now.
He had to hurry.

The hum of bugs in the hot summer
sun returned to Yugi�s ears and he shivered, the once overbearing heat of the
sunlight, now welcomed to his chilled insides. It was stupid, how afraid and
cold he was becoming from something as simple as a memory, strange as it may
be.
Yugi swallowed the dry lump and ran
his tongue over his teeth nervously before breathing in the air slowly, forcing
his heart to stop pounding so readily with in his chest. It�s just a normal game Yugi� nothing more� with a sharp nod to
himself, Yugi forced his shoulder�s back, standing taller as he turned and
stepped through the narrow opening, stepping over the thresh hold, with his
breath held tightly in his chest, until he was inside the large center, the sun
blazing down upon him warmly, the sound of the day humming comfortingly in his
ears and the stray wind blocked by the larger walls of the maze.
Yugi breathed out, letting his eyes
drift over the center, smiling at the normal looking area, all sunshine and mid
day joy. The pale ivory white marble bench gleaming in the sunlight, the edges
looking faded by dark smudges of dirt, testament of time and weathering. Just as I said� just a normal, stupid game.
Yugi let out a small laugh, relaxing
and stepping over the gravel, hearing the small pieces crunch beneath his feet
as he slowly made his way to the bench, reaching out and running a small hand
over the remarkably cool stone, feeling the soft scrape of stone against his
palm.
Yugi took a moment, simply enjoying
the feel of sunlight and normalcy his
mind resting at ease, as he mocked himself for his own fear. I�m being silly� and paranoid. Honestly, a hieratic
speaking hedge maze? What complete bull shit! He smiled, laughing a loud at
himself before turning to plop down upon the bench, curling his hands over the
seat�s edge feeling the sharp bite of the stone in his palms and fingers.
Yugi breathed in deeply, relaxing
after his weird adrenalin rush. I really
am a fool, freaking out over such a stupid thing. I�m getting as bad as mom.
Paranoid over every� little� Yugi
had opened his eyes to look around the hedge maze and was struck speechless at
the sight of a door inlaid in the ground on the left side of the maze�s heart.
Yugi blinked, and then rubbed at his eyes to be sure that the burnt golden door
was indeed there on the ground. It was, and Yugi licked his lips, curious as to
where the door lead. A bomb shelter
perhaps? Yugi thought, and pushed up intending to jump to his feet, but his
foot landed awkwardly on the pedestal�s edge, pitching him face first to the
graveled ground.
Yugi cursed under his breath in
pain, lifting himself up into a seated position, looking at his skinned knees
and palms with disdain. �Damn it, that hurts!� Yugi hissed, watching as the
blood welled to the surface of his wound on his palm. He would have continued
to wallow in self misery had a flicker of golden light not drown his attention
back to the pedestal and the bench he�d been seated in.
Looking up, Yugi was surprised to
find himself staring at a piece of yellowed paper, pinned to the ground by what
looked to be a golden object. Making a face, Yugi crawled closer, reaching out
with nibble finger, he grabbed the small item and lifted it up, amazed at the
cold feel of the heavy metal in his palm. A�
puzzle piece? Yugi thought distantly. His finger tips running over the
smooth edges of the golden puzzle piece. It�s
a piece from my millennium puzzle�Yugi thought absently caressing the thing
not yet completely certain of that thought, until he turned the palm sized
piece over. Burnt flames seemed to dance in his palm before they were
extinguished by the shadows of the eye in the center of the fragment.
Yugi swallowed a deep breath,
feeling overly heated and freezing cold at the same time. His palms felt clammy
as he traced the eye with his index finger. Why,
is this symbol so� sad? Yugi thought, not wishing to think on the fact that
the small item in his had also proved that the stories were true, and that his
friend all those years ago, was indeed the evil pharaoh that the gods cursed.
His foot slipped and grated on the
rocks, the sudden sound almost made him drop the glimmering item, but his fist
closed tightly around it instead, and he brought it to his chest, rubbing his
knuckles over it. �Ow!� Yug jerked at the pinch that
burned him there, and he lifted the
collar away from his skin to see if, during his tumble, he�d cut himself open.
Nope. No
blood.
�You�re really loosing it Mutou.�
Yugi whispered to himself in his best Kaiba impression, trying to make himself
calm down. He�d been freaking out over every little thing lately, and his heart
was getting tired of it. �Just go back, get lunch, and call Jonouchi.�
With a nod, he went to do just that,
but the paper that the puzzle had pinned down before, lifted with a stray
breeze and drew his attention back down to it.
Yugi blinked
at it.
Am
I really so stupid as to think that it�s not going to harm me mentally to pick
the damn thing up? Yugi thought crankily. He was getting sick of playing
the cornered mouse role. He�d not been that, since Jonouchi had befriended him,
and wasn�t keen on all the mental digression he�d been doing since coming to
Cairo.
With an aggravated huff, Yugi bent
down and snatched the piece of paper up. Standing back up he looked down at the
paper with a glare that quickly melted to wonder.
It was a map.
Drawn in crayon, scrawling over the
weathered sheet of white. A green smudge was near the bottom, a giant blue �X�
at it�s center. Yugi lifted an eyebrow, as the blue X had a line that extended
up at toward a black box. It was beyond the disturbed looking swing set and
giant daisy, so he assumed that it was supposed to be the house. Another X�this
one red�was in the upper right corner of the box. A yellow ring circled the X,
and written in sloppy hiragana next to the circle was, �yori
no.� Above? Above where?
A cold icy wind gusted through,
sneaking under his white tank and causing his skin to pickle with chill. Yugi
turned inward to a memory, as the whispers began once more.

He
landed awkwardly, and rolled across the gravel. Tears burned his eyes from the
painful tumble, but he choked them back, pushing up and away from the ground,
limping, toward the center. Here. Here was where it would rest, where it would
be safe, and found. He placed the white paper from his back pocket on the cold
ground, beneath the shadow caused by the bench, and set the gold piece that had
cut open his palm in his frantic run, atop of the paper, to make sure that the
wind would not get it.
Water
blocked his vision as he stood, scrubbing his eyes with his arm, feeling a deep
sense of betrayal and guilt fill him. It was his fault, he�d broken it, had
sent him back into the darkness. Yugi sobbed, out loud, looking up and to the
door, tracing the outlines of the keyholes with his eyes. He could feel the
shadows pull him to the door, and stepped away, remembering Pharaoh Yami�s
warning.
He
swore to come back, �Yugi wa Kaerimasu. Yaksoku yo!� His voice shouted on the
wind as he turned, running from the center, and back toward the thing that
chased him. He had to make sure that Yami was safe, he had to. The map could
never be found, except by him. Somehow he had to return.

Yugi shook his head, dispelling the
memory, as he tried to recall just where it would fit in to his life. It had to
have been before his mother had tucked him into bed at the motel down in town.
Right? Yugi gave a soft moan rubbing at his temple. A cold breeze picked up
once more, and Yugi felt a chill run down his spine as the wind brought with it
the whispered voice from before.
�ii
n antyw kkwy� akhu.�
Horrified at how near the breath of
wind sounded, Yugi turned till he was once again facing the door that was
inlaid in the ground. Questions as to where the door would lead arose in his
mind, and suddenly Yugi didn�t feel like calling Cairo hell anymore. A door� in the ground� asking me to� to�come
to its darkness? Yugi was shaking uncontrollably his hands gripping both
the small puzzle piece as well as the old map tightly, the paper crumpling
under his crippling hold. Yugi had no clue how he knew what the voice was
saying, and after a moment, no longer cared, as shadows seeped out from the
crevices of the impressions in it�s worn golden surface. It looked as though
there should have been seven impressions, though three had been filled with
equally golden items. There was a rod, balancing weight table, and an odd ahnk
shaped key, placed securely in their respective slots, and from the dust and
junk built up around the items, they had been there for quite some time. But
Yugi�s mind only logged that fact away to mull over it later, when it had
revived from the over load of shock that he was currently experiencing.
The shadows eased up and around the
gunk encrusted items, spiraling high before
merging together with a cold sizzling sound. Like incense being lit, its
perfumed smoke twining into the air in much the same fashion as the shadows
were at that moment. Yugi swallowed back a scream, his eyes becoming wide with
panic, pupils dilating as his blood vessels constricted.
The shadows formed arms, then hands,
dark and thick in the afternoon sunlight, and Yugi�s trembling grew worse. Holy fucking shit! It�s day time� and � and
the shadows are� the darkness! The darkness is�! Yugi let out a whimper as
the hands seemed to reach out toward him, the voice calling again to him.
�ii
antyw akhu. ii n antyw kkwy�� the voice chimed just out of his normal
hearing range and caused Yugi�s hair to stand on edge. The shadowed hands
reached out for him and Yugi jerked back when the hand came with in inches of
his face. ��iri
nn snd� akhu. biAw, akhu, nsp�nDs mrwt,
nsp��
Again the hands reached for him, and
Yugi watched in horror his mind calling out to him urgently, functioning only
well enough to put more fear into him. His Grandfather�s words rang clear in
his mind, as well as his mother�s silent warnings, what she�d tried to warn him
of when she sang to him at night.

��
a dark game that used items to play. The Millennium items.�

Yugi�s eyes darted to the encrusted
items and the four empty slots, in a locked door. A door that lead to darkness.
� Seven items for the seven sins� to
unlock the door� the door that leads to�

��Keep your eyes on me, now we�re on the edge of Hell��

Yugi�s head jerked back, just as the
hand moved to make contact with him. A desperate scream tore from his throat,
loud and sharp. It burned his neck, and forced tears to his eyes, but Yugi
couldn�t do anything to stop it. His body seemed to be working on its own as he
spun and bolted for the narrow exit. His foot slid nervously below him, and in
an effort not to fall, Yugi swung out and grabbed a hand full of holly. The
fine thorns punctured his palm, and he flinched slightly before pushing off of
the greenery that seemed to hum with vibration, as if it too was trying to
speak to him.
The thick walls quivered and made a
shushing sound, as he ran by them, from behind he heard a raising wail, that
started as a low rumbled and quickly rose in pitch until in was a high screech.
The sound was nearly painful enough to cause his ears to bleed, and Yugi choked
out a sob, his insides lurching at the broken cry that followed.
Yugi�s vision kept flickering in and
out of reality. Seeing the jostling path bathed in golden sunlight, his bloodied
palm outstretched to the right wall of the hedge maze, following what had once
been the left wall, knowing it would lead him out, but also seeing the rocking
maze in the dead of night as the connection to his friend was broken, the seal
complete. As he ran the pain grew unbearable, and the other screamed for him to
return, begged, pleaded, bled.
A pinch in his side burned
painfully, and Yugi knew that the weightlessness of his legs, and the spinning
of his head were not good signs, as he sucked in a deeper breath, but the
prickle on the back of his neck, that told him not to turn around, was a better
encouragement than the slight nauseating discomfort. Especially if the shadowed
hands were still following him.
His heart sang in his ears, his hand
had gone numb, and his entire torso burned with fire as his shoulders and neck
froze with apprehension, when the exit finally came into view. Yugi sobbed with
relief pushing himself to move faster, as the cry shrank back to a dull echo in
his ears, the pulling, prodding hands slacked their grip and he burst free into
the yard.
Yugi tripped, his body giving out,
and collapsed heavily onto the dry, prickly, grass. His body thrummed with his
adrenalin as he lay prone on the ground, heart pounding, tears falling
desperately from clenched eyes as he drew in deep gulps of air. Warm sunlight
bathed his tired body gently, and after what felt to be an eternity of blankly
laying there in the afternoon sun�mind focused only on breathing�Yugi felt
himself calm. The soft rustle of wind in the grass made him twitch, but it was
lacking the icy breath from before, and as he opened his senses more, Yugi
realized that once again, nothing was out of place.
The nightmare
had stopped.
Shriveled away under the glare of
the noonday sun, like a thin veil of fog under the approaching morning. Yugi
rolled onto his back, his arm flopping onto his chest, feeling his pulse in his
stomach and joints as the glare of day eased the last of his fears away.
�Kuso�� Yugi swore, his head flopping to the side, eyes resting on the crumpled
paper and golden piece he still held in a clenched fist.
Yugi groaned. I�ll never get over my fear of the dark� my need for a damn night
light� kami, I�ll never hear the end of it from
Jonouchi� I just know it.
Somehow, the
thought wasn�t as uplifting as he�d hoped.

~*~

�Jonouchi, this isn�t funny so stop
laughing!� Yugi practically yelled into the plastic mouth piece of the wall
phone, a deep scowl on his face. This was not how he�d imagined this encounter
to be. Sure he�d expected his friend to call him crazy, maybe even talk him out
of what he�d seen, help him to disillusion himself into believing that none of
it ever happened. But he had not expected his friend to laugh his ass off and
then tell him how all the shitty luck seems to follow him around. At least I can win a game of duel monsters
on my own� Yugi thought testily, not really meaning it, but needing to blow
some steam anyway.
�I�m sorry Yug�, it�s just, first
you have ta leave for the summer, then you start
getting weird messages from the creepy maze, two psycho�s and there sister,
insanity, give ya grief, you�re stared at like a walking mummy, get mistaken
for a girl, then a thirteen year old, and then, the damn maze attacks you?!
It�s just a bit too much you know?�
�Yeah, Jou, I know.� Yugi said in a
very snappish tone, and listened to the silent crackle of the long distant call
as he waited for Jonouchi�s rebuttal.
There was a long pause, in which
Yugi began to worry that either they lost connection, or that Jonouchi hung up
on him for being an ass. Damn it� why am
I being so� Yugi sighed and scrubbed at his chest idly, when Jonouchi
spoke.
�Look, sorry �bout that. I know it
must have been scary as hell� but freaking out about it won�t change a damn
thing.� He had a point, as always, and it brought a smile to Yugi�s face, and a
blush to his cheeks. And here I was ready
for war� I really need to take some Ritalin. Yugi slumped down to the floor
curled around the phone, holding it with both hands to his ear when Jonouchi
continued, sounding like a drill sergeant or in this case , their gym teacher.
�You get me?�
�Yeah, I get ya.� Yugi said with
much more clarity than he�d felt all day. He heard Jonouchi�s affirmative noise
from the phone as he continued.
�Now, the maze, I�d stay as far away
from it as I could if I was you��
�No, you think? I was planning on
throwing a fricken� tea party in there, Jonouchi� of
course I�d want to stay out!� Yugi said, half laughing half snapping. And he
heard Jonouchi�s hearty laugh in return.
�Okay, I get it, stupid advice, but
seriously, I don�t think you should say anything to anyone about it, and just
avoid the whole thing.�
Yugi mentally nodded to himself in
agreement. The last thing he wanted was for his grandfather to send him to the
hospital for schizophrenia, and hallucinations. All though that�s probably where I belong after all this mental bull
shit. Yugi thought, once again annoyed with the events that had led to this
moment.
�Now, about that map�� Jonouchi
asked, leaving the sentence open ended, and Yugi glanced toward the crumpled
item in question as it lay with the puzzle piece several feet from him.
�What about it?� Aside
from the fact that I may die from a fatal paper cut from it?
�Where do you think it leads?�
Yugi blinked, �Does that even really
matter here?� Yugi asked, not too keen on finding out if the puzzle really was
waiting for him.
�Yug�, don�t tell me your not in the
least bit interested?� Jonouchi was beginning to sound putout, and Yugi rolled
his eyes, keeping his smart ass retort back, not wanting to fight with his
friend. Not really, I think I�d rather
have a lobotomy than find out� Yugi�s long silence caused Jonouchi to sigh in aggravation, and Yugi felt a
little bad for acting the way he was. After all it was he who called Jonouchi
in the first place. �Look, Yug�, whatever is going down over there seems big,
and unless you do something about it, it ain�t going
away. So if that puzzle is the key to this whole thing, maybe you should look
for it at least.�
Yugi sighed, he did have a point.
�Yeah, I guess your right Jou��
�Of course I�m right!�
Yugi truly smiled at that one,
feeling somewhat normal again. �Where did you get that anyway?� Yugi asked, it
was a vague question but his friend caught on anyway. Yugi could feel the
discomfort through the phone, and lifted an eyebrow in suspicion. �Jonouchi��
�Kaiba.� It sounded strangled, even
choked out, and Yugi wasn�t sure if he heard right or not. After all, Jonouchi seemed
to hate the taller duelist with a passion, one that the brunette seemed to
return full heartedly. Then again, looks could be deceiving. Yugi glared at the
innocent looking hedge maze, before
trying once more to ask Jonouchi if he heard him correctly.
�Jou��
�I got it from Kaiba okay?! He was givin� another one of his dumb speeches on being a �true
duelist� and fighting against the odds� blah, blah, blah, like he�d really know
anything about that!�
Yugi grinned, and pressed a hand to
his mouth to hold back the laugh that threatened to escape. It was just like
always, Jonouchi flipping out over every little thing that Kaiba did, and the
other all but running him over with his sports car to get the blond�s
attention. He had his suspicions that the two really liked each other, but
which kind of like was debatable. Kaiba had a strong sense of protecting what
he saw as family, and Jonouchi had an unbreakable sense of loyalty that could
forge a very close friendship between the two, or could spark something deeper
than either was ready to admit.
��the bastard came out with a new
dueling disk! It allows you to play virtually, bring the monster�s �to life�
but you have to connect the disks together so that the 3-D, four inch monster�s
can battle. It�s cool, but of course that prick can only complain that �It�s
not good enough!� Honda and Otogi think that he�s money crazy.� Jonouchi
continued, and Yugi blinked in shock recognizing the system as one Kaiba had
him try out several months back.
�What do you think?� Yugi asked,
still in a light daze, when his friend barreled into another long venting
session.
�I don�t think he�ll ever be happy!
Hell, he could die with out any pain, a hero, having finally reclaimed his
title as the best, his brother could be set for life, and he could have just
finished with the best sex of his life, and he�d still find something to bitch
about.�
Yugi laughed long and hard at the
image, that Jonouchi painted. He was right though, Kaiba was a man who was
never satisfied, and seemed to want things to be difficult, rather than smooth
an easy. For a moment, Yugi couldn�t help but wonder what Kaiba would make of
his little �attacks,� but common sense quickly returned with an image of Yugi
returning to be publicly hauled away on charges insanity, happily handed out by
his arch rival.
�but, back on a serious note, Yug�,
you�re in some pretty scary shit, but what
choice do you have? Trust your Pharaoh, if he didn�t hurt you as a child, I
doubt he�ll do so now.�
Yugi nodded, looking at the items he
had brought back from the maze. Maybe
Jonouchi�s right, after all, from what I can remember, I didn�t fear him�
�Yes, if you�re ever in trouble,
your skirt wearin� �bishi,
will come running to your rescue!� Jonouchi cried through cackling laughter,
and Yugi scowled at the phone.
�Zaken nai yo!� Yugi yelled, feeling
his face heat up, all his fear forgotten for the time being. Jonouchi continued
to laugh for several minutes more, before a noise in the background distracted
him.
�Ah! Come in, yeah, it�s fine. Huh�?
Oh, no, it�s Yugi.� From behind Jonouchi, Yugi could faintly hear Honda�s
kowtow, but he did none-the-less.
�Oi! Yugi,
doushite no? Genki wa?� Honda sounded chipper as
usual, and Yugi felt an ache in his heart.

The
restaurant was crowded and loud, but that was just fine for the group that sat
by the large bay window. It was a group of five boys and one girl. The smallest
of the boy�s sat nearest the window with the girl, almost as though being
protected, and as it was annoying and somewhat smothering, the protectiveness
was also warming.
Yugi
looked up from teaching Shizuka how to play Duel Monsters, her older brother,
Jonouchi, and Honda where fighting once more about silly, useless stuff, while
Otogi dropped prank ice cubes into the quarreling duo�s drinks. Seto Kaiba, was
pretending that he was not a part of the group, typing away on his laptop, not
making a sound, but from the shine to his eyes, Yugi knew that he was enjoying
himself.
It
was such a warm place, the small crowded booth at Burger World, and he
wondered, how he had ever made it so far with out friends. Then, if he were to
lose them, would he survive?

�Yeah, as you can tell Honda�s
here�� Jonouchi trailed off, not wanting to be rude, but also wanting to be helpful.
Yugi smiled, understanding. He wouldn�t want to be ignored just because a
friend called your friend from halfway across the world.
�That�s fine. Tell him I say hi, and
I�m well. I�ll be back in three weeks, and I�ll call you tomorrow.� Yugi said
with a smile, though inside he was feeling kind of numb.
�Kay, but Yug� remember what I said,
all right? Don�t tell your mom about this.�
�What? Why?� Yugi asked, feeling
uneasy at the mention of his mother, connected to the puzzle.
�Well, maybe because she�s a spaz? No offense Yug�, you�re mom�s nice and all, but, come
on, she made you quit your job because you came home with a headache! She�s
just a bit too protective when it comes to you.�
Yugi flushed crimson, and nodded,
forgetting that his friend couldn�t see him and his morbid embarrassment. �� I
guess your right.� Yugi mumbled, picking at the strings of his cut-offs,
pulling the free strings off with his fingers.
�Of course I�m right.�
Yugi could just picture Jonouchi�s
face. Proud grin, joking eyes, face the embodiment of pranks and boyish fun.
That was his first friend, his best friend.
Yugi missed
him.
�Right. I�ll call you tomorrow.�
�All right, good luck, and if
anything bad happens, call, kay?�
�Right, bye. Oh, and thanks.�
Jonouchi sounded surprised when he
responded next. �For what buddy?�
�For listening.� Yugi stated simply,
knowing how uncomfortable Jonouchi got when things became mushy. For being my friend� that�s what.
�No prob. Anytime. Bye!�
�Bye�� Yugi whispered as the phone
went dead. For a long time, he just sat there, looking at the hand set in
remorse. He really didn�t want to be in Cairo anymore. He didn�t want to be in
Egypt, didn�t want to solve the stupid mystery of the damn hedge maze with the
disembodied hands. All he wanted was to spend the summer with his friends. His first summer with friends, and this
happens.
Yugi turned to look at the puzzle
with a glare, before twisting and hanging up the phone, the cord now twisted
around his body. It would have been funny, had he had someone to laugh with,
but because he didn�t, it only made him feel worse.
�This is all so stupid!� Yugi
growled, though the sound was more of a choked whimper than anything. Carefully
he untangled himself, and twisted free, picking up the map and gold piece
before heading to his room, and dropping them on the bed carelessly, and
flopping face down, burying his face in his pillow, and screamed.
�It�s not fair!�
And it wasn�t.
But that never
changed anything.

~*~

The soft sound of the shuffling
cards, echoed in the small room. It kept a three-beat rhythm in the silent
room, as the small duelist looked through the entirety of his deck. Although he
told himself that he was testing his knowledge, running the attack, defense,
and hidden moves through his mind as he flipped each card, so that he wouldn�t
fall out of practice, Yugi knew why he was really looking at his Duel Monster
cards with such intensity.
He was afraid.
Yugi pouted when he couldn�t
remember one of the Dark Magician�s special attacks. That was his favorite
monster, how could he forget something so important? The thought of wispy
hands, and evil Egyptian voices came to mind.
�Shimatta�� Yugi cursed, flopping
onto his back, legs still crossed in front of him. Yugi could feel a light pull
on his thighs, where the muscles stretched. Yugi let out a long sigh, eyes
looking up at the ceiling. Things seemed to be getting worse by the second.
He�d planned to prove to himself that nothing was wrong. That people in Cairo
were crazy, and that maybe his mother was hiding some dark family secret from
him. But that was all. No ghosts of ancient pharaohs hidden in doorways to
hell. But of course, that�s what he got.
Watching the shadow of his curtain
rise across his ceiling, Yugi wondered if he hadn�t lost his mind. I remember things� and they support
everything that has happened so far� maybe the water is poisoned, and I�m
suffering from delusions. Yugi almost laughed at how much he sounded like
Kaiba in that instant, and his rationalized reasoning was then rationalized
away. But, it�s unlikely that any water
pollution would survive ten years with out being found out�
There was something familiar about
the way the shadow moved, and Yugi found himself wandering through memories
again, drifting from reality to a hazy dream like moment, he had forgotten to
had ever existed.

The
night was cold, as always, and the moonlight added to the iciness, giving the
room a silver tint. Long terrifying shadows eased up the wall and across the
pale colored ceiling in a manner that would have terrified the small child
curled in the bed, had it not been for the black, wispy shadow that stood in
the corner of the room, crimson eyes watching the boy with tender longing.
Yugi
couldn�t sleep. He watched the play of light and dark on his roof with mild
curiosity, unafraid for the first time in his life of the shadows of the night.
After all, Pharaoh Yami was there to protect him, and the shadows were under
his command, so he had nothing to fear.
�sDr, akhu, sDr n nqdd.� The
shadow whispered, and Yugi rolled over with a pout. Large amethyst eyes locking
onto the patient crimson.
�Demo,
Yugi wa nemimasen.� Yugi sad clearly. He wasn�t
sleepy, so found no point in agreeing with the shadow�s recommendation to do so.
Pharaoh Yami tilted his head and questioned Yugi�s comment, and Yugi sat up in
his bed and nodded. �Not sleepy!�
A
low chuckle sounded from the corner and the shadow moved closer to the bed
side. Yugi watched curiously, as his friend looked down on him, one cool hand
rising to cup his cheek sweetly, thumb brushing his cheek bone. �nDs akhu� antyw mri.�
Yugi
tilted his head to the side, confused by the endearment, until the other knelt
before him on one knee. Yugi grinned, and threw his arms around his friend. �I
do!�
The
other seemed confused, and questioned Yugi�s actions, to which Yugi giggled. �I
do, I will marry you!� Again Yugi was thrown into giggles as the other
sputtered for a few minutes, looking lost and confused, well, as much as a dark
shadow with crimson eyes can appear.
�That�s
what everyone on T.V. says when the guy kneels before his� mri?�
Yugi scrunched up his face trying to repeat the foreign word, and was surprised
when it rolled out clearly, and easily. His friend seemed surprisingly pleased
at that, and Yugi grinned under the proud look.
�nfr
mry. nfr Xrd� antyw akhu, nqdd.� The shadow lulled,
and Yugi shook his head, and could have sworn his friend sighed at his
incompliancy.
�We
need to get married now, Yami!� Yugi said bouncing on his bed happily, crawling
out and to his toy chest at the foot of the bed. The shadowed hand stopped him
and pulled him back and into a tight embrace. Yugi blinked as his other
whispered to him, telling him in the same manner as he�d done in the dark
pyramid, that now was not the time. Yugi pouted, and almost began to cry.
�Anata
wa� don�t want to marry Yugi?� He asked in a small voice, and was instantly
bombarded by the denial of his accusation from the shadow that held him.
�temti-t,
akhu� temti-t.� The breath was cool on his ear and
Yugi shivered pulling close to the body behind him, a large yawn breaking over
his face. Another croon lulled Yugi to sleep, and this time Yugi listened,
allowing his shadow to tuck him into his bed, pressing a tender kiss to his
forehead.
�Yakusoku
yo?� Yugi asked, holding up his tiny pinky finger, and watched the warm eyes
soften, a large ghostly finger incasing his own, as the Pharaoh nodded. Yugi
grinned, letting out one last yawn as his eyes drifted shut. �Yami, Yugi wa daisuki.�
For
a moment nothing happened, then just before dreams stole his mind away, Yugi
heard his response, whispered just above his head, another gentle kiss pressing
to his temple. �mrwrt ntk,
antyw akhu. nDs mrwrt.�

With a shiver Yugi sat up, arms
wrapping around himself. I agreed to
marry an illusion?! Great� just great. I either agreed to marry a psychotic
ghost of an evil pharaoh, or I married and confessed my love to an imaginary
delusion brought on by water poisoning. Yugi wasn�t sure which was worse.
He rolled his eyes, and set his cards on the nightstand next to the lamp, and
moved to leave the room, and see if there was anything on the television. His
eyes landed on the half crumpled wad of paper beside his cards, under the small
golden piece, and froze.
Should
I find out? Yugi wondered, hand rubbing his chest nervously as he
considered his options. It would be safer not to pry. To ignore everything and
try to forget what he was remembering, but that was what his mother would do,
what she would have him do, and for reasons Yugi himself didn�t know, he didn�t
want that at all.
Setting his face, Yugi grabbed the
sheet of paper, and the puzzle piece with the eye of Ra in its center. Looking
at the small object, Yugi felt a tingle race down his spine. There�s only one way to find out� Yugi
thought as he pocketed the small item and looked down to the crayon drawing
he�d made as a boy. � and that�s to find
where I hid the rest of that puzzle.
A glance at
the scribbled instructions, and Yugi felt a head ache start to form.
And
that will be after I decipher this thing�

~*~

�This is bull shit!� Yugi cussed, as
he stomped up the stairs for the fifth time in the past fifteen minutes. He�d
been working on the damn map for over three hours, and still could only guess
that somewhere inside the giant maze that was the house, the puzzle he�d found
was waiting for him to find it. The only question was, where?
Yugi had traced his steps from the
garden out back, up into the house and through the entire lower section, then
remembering the odd hiragana, had searched the upstairs for it, but had found
nothing, and the map ended at the wall beside his bedroom door.
�This is so stupid! It was probably
thrown out, or Grandpa sent it to some historical museum after I left.� Yugi
grumbled, turning to trudge to his room, and paused by his door, once more
looking at the map with a scowl. I led my
self straight to a wall� god I really was a looser as a child. No wonder my
only friend was a hallucination.
Yugi made a sad expression at the
thought, moving to toss the paper into his room, when the sound of the front
door opening caught his attention. A moment later a familiar voice was calling
up after him, sounding slightly concerned. �Yugi? Are you in, I�m back.�
Sugoroku�s voice echoed up the stairs and reminded Yugi of brighter memories.

Yugi
poked his head out from his door, looking down the hall from the linen closet
beside the bathroom. His Grandfather was calling him down for lunch, but
Pharaoh Yami was searching for him. The game of Kakurenbo
seemed a little more important than his Grandfather�s hamburgers. After all,
the whole point of the game was to stay hidden from the seeker.
�Yugi,
Malik and Marik have come to see you, come down!�
Yugi
fiddled with the cloth he sat on. He knew that if he didn�t leave and go down
the stairs that he would be in trouble, but he didn�t want to be caught. He
knew the attic would have been a better hiding place, up there it would have
been impossible to hear his grandfather�s cries. Then again, that was why he
was not allowed to be up there, hence the reason he was hiding in the linen
closet.
�Yugi!�
He
started to quake, and cracked the door open a bit farther to peek out. The hall
was clear, if he ran he might make it down the stairs before his friend caught
him, but that would be like calling quits to the game, and unfair to his
friend. Yugi swallowed, and eased his head out, still undecided on what he was
going to do.
�Akhu��
The voice drifted by his ear and Yugi jumped, arms wound around his body and
pulled him out and off of the ground. Yugi grinned, reminded of how his father
used to hold him, before�
�gmi ntk, mry.�
He was nuzzled by the shadow that held him, and Yugi giggled, twisting to try
and break free, deny the fact that he�d just lost their game, and was only held
closer still.
�Iie,
Yami, hanashite!� Yugi laughed, telling the shadow to
let him go, and was spun a bit before finally set on the ground. Yugi spun
around to return the playful attack, and was stopped by his friend�s gentle
guiding hands as he turned him in the direction of the stairs. Telling him that
he had duties that needed to attended to, in his odd manner.
Yugi
pouted for only a moment, before obeying, and made his way down the stairs,
glancing back only once, to look at the crimson eyes that gave him the greatest
feeling of security that he�d ever known. They were warm, and loving. Yugi
smiled and waved, promising to return as soon as he was done.
The shadow nodded, and left to Yugi�s
room, walking by the entrance to the attic, appearing as a haze against the
small trap door. Then he was gone, back into their room, to wait for Yugi�s
return.

�Yugi?�
�Aa, Jii-chan, I�m up here!� Yugi
called, startled from his thoughts, and shut the door to his room, turning to
greet his grandfather. He stopped, not more than four feet from his door, eyes
widening as he turned to the dead end wall he�d glared at all afternoon. Wait� the attic� there was an attic�
The childish instructions, screamed
in his ears, and through his mind, suddenly making so much sense, that Yugi
wondered how he could have missed it. Above�
above the house. Jeeze, how stupid can I be? Yugi
mentally berated himself for a moment longer, before tracing the trap door in
the ceiling just above and to the right of his room.
It looked like any other pull down
attic door way, a soft wooden frame with a plaster looking center and a handle
for pulling the door open. Nothing unusual about it, then again there had been
nothing unusual about the hedge maze either, then he�d been attacked by
non-living hands. Yugi fisted his hand by his side a moment before making his
way toward the door. If I don�t look�
then I�m just hiding away like mother would have me do� Yugi braced himself,
and grabbed the handle.

The
house was dark with shadows as he looked up at the trap door. He had to be
quiet, otherwise his grandfather would wake, and if that happened he�d call his
mother and she�d know that he�d run from her, to this place, to his friend. She
probably already knew, but any hope he could get, Yugi clung to. His small six
year old form trembled, as sadness engulfed him with what he was about to try.
�Akhu!�
Yugi turned, tears escaping when his shadow friend came up to him, sounding relieved
and happy that he�d returned, but he didn�t know. What Yugi was planning, it
was worse than what his mother wanted, but if he didn�t, Yami would be killed,
and Yugi couldn�t allow that. �Akhu? nDs mry�� Shadowed arms reached out to hold him, and Yugi ran
to them, clinging to the other, desperately wishing that he didn�t have to go.
�Gomen
ne! Gomen ne, Yami! Demo� Kaa-san wa, Kaa-san wa�� Yugi choked and sputtered, and the shadow
desperately tried to calm him. The reflection of head lights on the glass
windows caused him to jerk away. There was no time left. �Yami, lift Yugi up
there.� Yugi said in a hushed whisper, pointing to the attic. The darkness
seemed perplexed by the request, but lifted his small charge up, Yugi shifted
his back pack once, left hand moving to touch the puzzle one last time.
His small hand reached out and grabbed
the handle.
And pulled.

The door pulled down, and Yugi was
surprised to find that it was thicker than it looked, the plaster just a cover
for decoration. Wooden stair where folded and tucked into each other on the
door, leading up and into the attic. Yugi looked at it for a moment, waiting to
see if he remembered anything. Nothing came.
With a heavy sigh, Yugi reached up
and pulled the stairs down until the bottom clunked against the hallway floor,
with a hollow sound. Don�t back down now�
besides worse thing that could be up there is a scorpion, or some deadly spider
that will kill me in seconds. Surprisingly, the thought of being killed by
a bug was a bit relieving, in comparison to being killed by a ghost. Great, now I�m thinking of myself as already
dead�
Yugi climbed up the stairs, shocked
at how well they supported his weight. A soft creek was the only sound they
made, and then he was inside. The room was dusty, but only slightly, proving
that Sugoroku often made trips up to the attic. From the single window across
the room, warm sunlight filtered in, lighting the room in a golden glow. The
air was close, confined; the room, hot and muggy. It was as if the very breath
he drew was stale, and Yugi shiver, feeling a bit uncomfortable in the room.
It was bare aside from the large
bookshelf that lined the left wall, and stretched down to the window on the far
wall. The ceiling rose to a peak in the center, giving the roof a slant at the
sides, just high enough that Yugi didn�t have to duck. There was some old boxes, marked with
permanent ink. Some said Christmas, others had his father�s name scrawled
across it�s side. And Yugi wondered if it was his father�s old baby things, but
quickly turned from those thoughts with annoyance.
Now
where would I hide a puzzle? Yugi thought to himself, scanning the room
carefully, picking out places that looked right with his mind, but each seemed
to be empty, save for a dust mote or a random dust web. Above� Yugi thought, eyes falling to the bookshelf. Old worn books
lined the shelves, some appearing to be photo albums, their spines pealing
away. Higher up at the top, several boxes and picture frames lay haphazardly
over the top, upon further inspection, Yugi found that one of the boxes stuck
out just a bit farther than the rest. And
there it is�
Yugi felt on anxious chill run down
his back, and nervously rubbed his chest again, feeling the fabric of his shirt
scrap against his skin. The sensation brought with it the reality he needed,
and took his mind from the horror stories he was remembering. This is real life, not some cheesy scary
movie� so calm down Yugi, everything will be all right� Yugi thought to
himself though a small corner of his mind mocked him silently.
The floor boards squeaked in protest
as he walked to the bookshelf. His feet made a soft hollow thump every time
they made contact with the ground, and it echoed in Yugi�s heart. Now standing
before the shelf, Yugi could see that he could easily make it to the top if he
stood on the first shelf. He worried about it supporting his weight for only a
moment, before pulling himself up, the book case squealing it�s displeasure.
His heart thrummed loudly in his
ears, his breathing sounding emphasized, as with a quaking hand, Yugi reached
up to the dust covered cardboard game cover. It pulled away easily, the frames
leaning against it clacking together lightly, and the soft sound made him jump.

Broken
sobs wracked his small body as he sat upon the blacked floor, glittering gold
pieces scattered around him. His tears became droplets that painted the small
glittering pieces in the silver moonlight, and the small boy coughed loudly, as
he tried to suppress his screams. The image of his friend�s saddened eyes still
haunted him, and twisted his heart from his chest.
His
friend was trapped again, in the
darkness, and it was all his fault. The child leaned over the broken puzzle,
mourning his crime, wishing with all his heart that he hadn�t done what he knew
he had. He�d killed his only friend. Had sent him back to his nightmare-world,
and now, he was going to leave him behind.
The
sound of the door bell froze the boy�s suffering, and forced him to gather the
pieces together into the golden box they had come from. The ring came again,
and Yugi jumped, dropping the center piece to the ground. Looking at it, and
idea formed, he�d return it to the place it belonged, so that he would know
what to search for when the time came. Carefully he shoved the object into his
pocket and fitted the golden lid to the box, lifting it up and crawling over to
the shelf. He�d have to climb it, to hide it where it needed to be, but that
was fine. If he fell he deserved it, after all, he�s the one who condemned his
own friend to this hellish misery.
�Gomen
ne, Yami� Gomen��

Yugi blinked back to the present,
and stared, eyes wide at the golden case that rested before him. It was covered
in a thin layer of dust, forgotten for years. It�s elegantly carved hieroglyphs
and the eye of Horus standing out on the front. Black outlined the iris of the
eye, carved into the gold, and for some reason, Yugi found himself terrified of
it. Like, he knew the owner of that feature, and was quite happy being far from
the person, or thing.
Something nagged at the back of his
mind, telling him that he knew more to this puzzle than he thought he did, but
that was impossible. Yugi shook the thought off, his heart pounding away in his
chest out of fear. Annoyed, Yugi reached out and gripped the box, feeling a
deep sensation of recognition and relief�that was not his own�filled him.
What
the hell was that about? Yugi thought, unsteadily, his arm tingling now
that the thing was cradled in his hands gently. Yugi swallowed hard, thumb
brushing and running over the gold box and the written words around it. All
sound had left, retreated to the beat that hammered inside of his chest, and
the blood that hummed in his ears. Will
this really give me my answers? Will� Pharaoh Yami� was he real? If I finish
this puzzle will he come back? Yugi was slightly trembling now, but he was
hardly aware of it as a more horrifying thought entered his mind. What if he kills me for Trapping him again?
Panic was beginning to fill his mind
and senses again, the whispered words of the hedge maze echoing in his mind,
calling to him, inviting him into darkness. Yugi�s breath became uneasy and
harsh and his mother�s song, and grandfather�s words pulsed around him much
like they had done in the heart of the maze. Dear Kami! I�m gonna be�
�Yugi?�
A piercing scream left Yugi�s lips,
and he flung around holding the puzzle to his chest. Sugoroku�hand pressed to
his own chest from shock�looked at Yugi from the entrance to the attic. Plumb
eyes shone with concern, and Yugi flushed red with embarrassment. �G�gomen,
Jii-chan�� Yugi mumbled looking down at his socked toes.
�That�s quite all right Yugi. I was
just wondering if you were all right, and if you wanted hamburgers for lunch.�
Sugoroku spoke evenly. Yugi got the impression that the elderly man was
purposefully going out of his way to sound placating, as though Yugi were a
mental case, or a small child. Neither insinuation sat well with him at the
moment, and he scowled, looking into the elderly man�s eyes.
�No thank you. I�m not hungry.� His
tone was sharp and angry, and he watched the sad look that filled his
grandfather�s eyes at it, and felt slightly guilty. �� actually, I would much
prefer some soup if you have any.� Yugi muttered as a peace offering, his eyes
down cast once more.
�Sure Yugi, I think I can find
something. You better come down soon though, the attic can become very
dangerous during the day.� Sugoroku warned, leaving. If he�d noticed the golden
box, Sugoroku gave no indication, and so, Yugi quietly followed after his
grandfather, taking the box with him, and slipped into his room. He was both
grateful and shocked that Sugoroku had not asked him about him being in the
attic. Had it been his mother� Yugi shook the thoughts from his mind harshly.
He had no wish to think of that. Besides�
Yugi looked to the crumpled map and the center piece of his puzzle.
�antyw
akhu�� A breath of sound in his mind.
Yugi looked back to the box, and
felt a swell of determination engulf him. �
I have to solve this quickly� Yugi swallowed moving to his bed, and
dropping the box beside the small piece. But,
all that can wait until after lunch. Yugi thought, turning from the puzzle
quickly, and all but running from the room.

~*~

Yugi sat glaring at the innocent
looking puzzle. It seemed to be mocking him, as it rested amongst the sheets of
his bed, glinting softly in the fading sunlight. It had seemed so simple at
first, the pieces fitting together so smoothly, and easily, and then, it all
stopped.
�This. Is. Bullshit!� Yugi growled,
as yet another piece refused to slide home. He was just about the throw the
piece back into the pile on his bed, when the phone rang. Yugi froze, looking
at the white corded phone that his grandfather had told him to take up to his
room, the third night of his stay. His mother had a nasty habit of calling him
late in the evening, and to keep himself from being woken up at all hours,
Sugoroku had given Yugi�s his bedroom phone.
The call was
early.
Yugi watched the phone ring two or
three more times before picking it up. The cool plastic was calming as he
pressed it to his ear, listening to the slight crackle of the line before
asking in a soft voice, �Moshi, Moshi?�
He hoped to god, it wasn�t the
psycho�s or insanity on the other end. Yugi seriously doubted that he could
handle another dose of weirdness in one afternoon. Luckily god was in a good
mood.
�Yugi-kun?� The concerned ring of
his mother�s voice, caused Yugi to relax, but a moment later panicked to hide
the puzzle under his comforter, as though she could see it just by talking to
him. With all the shit that�s happened
today, I wouldn�t doubt it� Yugi thought with a roll of his eyes.
�Aa, Okaa-chan, ore wa.� Yugi said,
and could just picture Anzu�s face as she relaxed, satisfied that her baby was
safe. She always seemed to be over-bearingly concerned for him, going so far as
to panic if he did not call her at least once a day. �How are you?�
�Oh, just fine sweet heart. The
trial seems to be taking forever, since the old records were lost, as well as
Yoshi�s appeal forms.� The way she spoke sounded almost smug, but Yugi hardly
noticed, as he broke into a light sweat at the mention of the man�s name.

The
court room was large, much larger than he remembered it to be now that all
those people where there. Yugi felt his heart flutter in his chest and he
clenched his hands, feeling dizzy and sick to his stomach. Did he really have
to go through with it? Did he have to point out and look at the man who he was
convicting? Did he have to tell al those people in the seats what he�d seen,
what he remembered?
The
ten-year-old shook like a leaf, and tried to shrink away, and hide in his small
suit, but still, the booming voice of the attorney called his name, and his
mother was pushing him toward the stand. He wondered if he were to burst into
frightened tears, if his mother would make it all go away, like she always did,
but his eyes stayed dry, and his voice silent.
Each
step seemed to echo in his mind, and Yugi shook even more so than before, and
swallowed back a whimper when he saw the man who he hated and feared above all
other�s. The taunting sneer on his pasty skin, brown eyes looking, for once,
sober, made Yugi stop and quake.
Terrified, he was terrified.
He
kept screaming out for someone, but he could not remember who it was he knew
should have come to his aid. Tears gathered in his eyes, and spilled down his
face. Where was his savior? What had happened to him?
Guilt.
It
was his fault.

�Yugi? Daijoubu, chisai
no ko?� Anzu�s voice sounded worried again, and Yugi
broke free of his thoughts with a jerk, and he was shocked to find his eyes
moist with his unshed tears.
�Yeah, I�m fine, mom, really.
Daijoubu.� Yugi said, relieved that his voice didn�t give away his fears. �I�m
just a bit sleepy.�
�Oh? What have you been doing today
that would make you so sleepy?� His mother asked, and for some reason, Yugi
couldn�t shake the feeling that his mother was asking about the maze. A slow
sinking feeling filled him, and something else. Pity? Yugi blinked confused as to why he would pity his own mother,
but shoved the thought aside, not wishing for his mother to become suspicious.
�Oh, Jii-chan took me down town to
look around. Busy place, kinda wore me down though.� Yugi flinched at his own
lie, feeling horrible for saying such things to his mother, but some part of
him knew that it was necessary. He only hoped it was right.
�Oh, that sounds like fun.� She�d
bought it. Yugi sighed, relieved, and listened to his mother�s idle chatter for
a little while longer, replying in turn his own events after coming home from
town. The conversation ended with Jonouchi, and how it would be nice to see him
again, before she made it clear that she had to go.
�All right, well, Goodnight my Yugi.
I love you.� Her words were soft, and kind, like a mother�s, but it seemed to
ask for forgiveness as well. Yugi shook his head harshly. Stop it, you�re making up reasons to be afraid�
�Night mom, I love you too.� Yugi
replied, and then heard the soft click as the phone went dead.
For a long time Yugi just sat,
listening to the dial tone. He felt numb, the memory of the trial that had
locked Kage Yoshi away six
years ago, racing through his mind, chilling him to the bone. Now, with nothing
else to focus on, Yugi was left alone with his nightmares. Nightmares sealed
away in the dark behind a tightly closed door.

�In
your own words Yugi, tell us what happened the night of April 12^th.�

�No�.� Yugi whimpered pulling his
legs up to his chest and burying his face in his knees.
And sobbed.

~*~

It seemed to be a miracle, but for
some reason the puzzle appeared to be easier to solve now. Yugi didn�t quite
know why he�d grabbed the puzzle when the tears became too harsh, but he had,
and with each piece that slid home, Yugi felt his pain and sorrow ease. Well if it�s a key to hell than I guess
suffering would be a great tool for solving it. Yugi thought dryly,
twisting the puzzle in a half turn and fitting in another piece. Like
everything else, fuzzy memories helped to guide his hand, reminding him what
pieces went where, and what direct to twist the puzzle to next. It was like a
dream, or a sleep walking experience, except that he was wide awake.
Yugi chuckled dryly to himself,
another piece slipping in with a light clink, and Yugi was glad to see that the
puzzle was beginning to take the shape of an upside-down pyramid. At least I can say that I�m doing it right
from what Jii-chan said. Yugi thought with a bit of sarcasm. He still
wasn�t certain if he wanted to see the puzzle completed or not. The idea of
seeing those wispy hands again did not bring joyous thoughts of pink fluffy
bunnies and sugar cane.
All the same, it was something to do
to keep his mind from� other things,
and so, he continued to work on the key to hell. Another piece slid home, and
Yugi felt a joyous pull that was not his own, and shivered. Did he really want
to finish the golden thing?
Hands shaking Yugi lifted the next
piece and twisted the puzzle again, finding the slot and fitting the piece in,
the feeling that was not his own swelled in his mind, and Yugi felt like
crying. Stop it Yugi! You are you, there
is no one, no one else in your head.
It�s just your inner child remembering his puzzle� yeah, that�s it. No
matter how hard he tried to convince himself of that, his heart still doubled
when he looked to the side only to find two glittering pieces left. One
sporting the eye of Horus on its front.
The god of
death.
Yugi shivered. Okay, so technically Horus was the �king of gods on the earth,� but he was the
symbol that guarded the souls of the after life, or, at least he was a symbol
in most of the death rights that Yugi had seen on television. It is a key to hell� I�ll meet bird man in
hell� just dandy� Yugi thought picking up the other piece and inserting it
in it�s rightful place.
Only one piece
remained.
Yugi glared at the small object his
insides warring. One part wanted to complete the puzzle, needed to complete it,
the other half wanted to hide in his closet. Yugi sat for several long moments,
just watching the gold. He knew it wasn�t good, and yet, it was something that
belonged to him. More so than his simply finding it. He just knew it, and it was driving him batty.
��akhu�
antyw akhu��
Yugi jumped, and spun to the open
wind, heart pounding in his chest. Fuck
this, I�m not finishing it tonight! Yugi thought throwing the nearly
completed item on his pillow as he bolted out of his room and flew down the
stairs and into the kitchen. He wasn�t stupid enough to stay alone in his room
while the monsters from the hedge maze came to drag him to bird man.
Yugi stopped in the middle of the
lighted kitchen making a face as he realized what he�d just done. I�m running� from monsters� in the hedge
maze? Yugi rolled his eyes at his girly and childish response and slumped
at the table, watching his grandfather as he finished with the dinner.
�Yugi-kun,
set the table for me, will you?� Sugoroku asked, putting on his oven mitts and
reaching into the oven to pull out the meatloaf, or what smelled like meatloaf
anyway. Yugi stood and went about the task provided, glad for any excuse to
stop thinking about the puzzle and the hedge maze. �Yugi-kun?�
�Aa, Ojii-san?� Yugi questioned,
looking over his shoulder. Sugoroku�s face was pulled taunt, as though he
wanted to ask Yugi something, but a moment later his eyes cleared and his
expression smoothed.
�Nothing,� Sugoroku smiled, and
brought the meatloaf to the table. �What would you like to drink?�
Yugi grinned, glad that Sugoroku was
letting him off the hook, for whatever it was that was bothering him, and answered
his grandfather�s question quickly nearly bouncing about the room as the last
of the preparations were finished.

Dinner was a fairly silent affair,
though not uncomfortable in the least, and Yugi was grateful for the warm
feeling in his chest. It had been too long since he�d had a sense of family,
and it was a part of himself he did remember missing until now. But, the
comfort was readily welcomed, as Yugi sat before the cleared table before a
large photo album, old and dusky with age. It smelled of dust and liquor,
remedies of the last few times the book had been viewed. Yugi smiled,
recognizing the smell of cigar smoke, as one of the traits that belong to his
grandfather. Though how he knew was well beyond Yugi, like everything else
seemed to be.
�This one is your mother and father,
two months before their marriage.� Sugoroku stated with a laugh to his tone.
�As you can see, Anzu�s already starting to show. My son,� Sugoroku shook his
head still chuckling, and Yugi joined in a bit, his fingertips tracing the face
of the man he loved and hated more than he ever could say. �He never could keep
his hands to himself when it came to your mother.�
A few other pictures showed the
couple, smiling happily together. It seemed to be the perfect fairy tale,
though as he looked, Yugi couldn�t help but see an emptiness to his mother�s
Azure eyes. As though her smile was somewhat forced. It was akin to the way he
felt almost everyday of his life since returning to this giant house. Like a
giant hole was missing from his life, and he was yearning to get it back. Why� why does she look so sad when she�s
laughing�?
The page turned with a crinkling
sound and Yugi caught sight of a picture of his mother. She was curled on the
couch of the old apartment that they used to live in before the divorce. She
was wearing one of his father�s button down shirts and a pare of sweatpants.
Her belly was distended and round showing off her condition proudly. She was
curled up, arms holding her waist, hands rubbing gently over her belly, face
alight with a deep life. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes simply glowed with
pride. Yugi gasped, the look in her eyes was gone, and it�s place was bitter
hope.
�Ah, that one. I don�t think she
ever knew that your father had taken that photo of her.� Sugoroku sighed,
almost sadly, though his smile remained intact. �You were her world, Yugi. You
were everything that she ever wanted.�
Yugi looked back to the photo, and
wondered if this was the beginnings of the shattered relationship that would
become of his parents� marriage. After
all, daddy said� he knew� claimed that�
�Did my father love me?� Yugi asked,
when the next shot showed his father holding him close as an infant. Yugi was
tiny, and fit in his father�s hands, eyes wide with curiosity, the amethyst
looking as though it would consume his entire face. Tufts of purple tipped
ebony covered his head, as the beginnings of golden bangs shone on his forehead.
His father looked please, even happy, and Yugi felt his insides grow numb.

From
the door he could see them. They were yelling again, their voices hateful and
angry. Words so foul that they made him cry where thrown back and forth between
the two people who were supposed to love and protect him, but were now ripping
his fragile world and heart to shreds.
�Will
you stop it! You are going to wake Yugi up!� Anzu hissed, gesturing to the door
down the hall from the two fighting parents. Her concern was evident, and her
fierce love and protection of her child was evident in the hateful glare she
sent her husband. The tall man with the wild black hair laughed at her, turning
and running a hand through his cobalt bangs, rolling his deep brown eyes. His
father�s eyes were so dark, that sometimes they looks black. Yugi often wished
that his eyes looked like that. Maybe then his father wouldn�t look so angry
when he looked in them.
�That�s
right, this has always been about Yugi, hasn�t it Anzu?�
Anzu�s
eyes looked stunned and she stepped back a bit, recoiling from her husband as
though he were insane. �Of course it is, Yuigi. He�s
our son! A child, we are supposed to protect him, why would this life not be
about him? His happiness?!� Anzu was crying now, and Yugi whimpered wishing to
run out and hold his mother, to stop her from crying, but he knew that if he
came out now, they would only fight more.
After all, it was his fault.
�No,
Anzu, that�s your reason.� Yuigi�s voice sounded
cold, and Yugi glanced to his father confused, missing the look of sudden,
calculating, understanding in his mother�s eyes.
�What?�
�I
know, Anzu. I know all of it. What you did, why you�re here, and yes, I know
exactly what Yugi is.� The words rang through the air like poison, and Yugi
turned pressing his small hands to his ears as he shook his head violently from
side to side, trying with all of his might to block out the sounds that
continued to come. But nothing could have stopped the words that came from his
father next, and he doubted that the pain he felt would ever leave him as the
words sank in, shattering his world completely.
�He
is not my son!�

Yugi�s hands were balled so tightly
in his lap, that his knuckles had turned white, and his palms ached as his
nails bit into the flesh of his palm angrily. He wasn�t aware that he was
crying until his grandfather spoke up, his voice steady and calm. Proving to
Yugi, more than the words ever could, that Sugoroku was telling the truth.
�You were his everything Yugi. He
simply found out, that he couldn�t keep you, and I think that�s what killed him
in the end.� Sugoroku mumbled, a large hand holding Yugi�s shoulder gently.
Yugi tensed at the contact for only a moment, before relaxing. Shaking as a few
tears fell. �We all loved you, Yugi. You were the light in our lives, but when
it came to what was best for you, well, some of us, had to make some tough
decisions. Yuigi, most of all.�
Yugi scrubbed his arm over his eyes,
sniffling back his sobs. � this� this is
what I wanted. What I always wanted� just to know� that daddy� that he� loved
me� even a little�
�Arigatou�� Yugi whispered, once he
was certain that his voice would no longer crack, and was again grateful when
Sugoroku pretended not to notice his tears. The elderly man just nodded his
head, turning the page to show Yugi some other captured moments from when he
was staying with Sugoroku.
Crimson eyes
stared out from the shadows.
Yugi let out a shocked cry, and
leapt to his feet toppling his chair over with a loud clatter. His heart was
pounding in his chest, and he rubbed at it nervously. Sugoroku glanced at him,
an odd expression on his face, before pointing to a picture of the two of them
by a pyramid, either not seeing, or simply ignoring the photo above that held
the image of himself covered in dust and dirt, a dark shadow looming behind
him, crimson eyes sad and remorseful. Shit!
Shit! Shit! He wasn�t from the water� he�s� caught on film! Oh, Kami-sama, Enma, and Budda� I proposed
to the ghost of a psychotic, evil pharaoh when I was six!
The photo album suddenly closed with
a soft snapping sound, and Yugi jumped from his thoughts, turning to look up at
the elderly man in complete confusion. Sugoroku just smiled kindly, ruffling
Yugi�s hair a bit as he stood, the dusty volume stuck under his arm with care.
�jii-san, nani desu ka?�
Sugoroku shook his head, plumb eyes
sparkling with kind understanding. �It is late Yugi, and you look tired. I
think this is enough reminiscing for one night.� With that, Sugoroku turned and
made his way up the stairs toward his room. Yugi watched him leave for a
several moments, feeling as though he had somehow let his grandfather down,
before he stood and resolutely moved back toward his bedroom.
His entire body felt heavy as he
entered the room, closing the door behind him silently. The house now seemed
coldly silent and Yugi took his shirt off with an angry huff, throwing the
article of clothing across the room and shrugging into the cotton top of his
pajama�s that were still crumpled up under the sheets of his bed. Once in his night clothes, Yugi
crawled onto his bed, only to sit and stare at the mocking puzzle on his
pillow, the final piece glittering beside it, begging him to slip in into
place, and finish the key to hell. This
is so insanely stupid� I mean� aside from meeting Satan, how bad can it be?
Yugi scowled at his own thoughts,
all ready knowing good and well, how bad things could get. The evening air
billowed in through his open window, and with it the spicy smell of sands and
the musky sent of time invaded his thoughts.
�Antyw
akhu� ii n antyw kkwy��
Yugi reached out, his hand trembling
as he lifted the puzzle into his hand, his other trembling just as badly as he
picked up the final piece. The voice whispered against his ear, sounding course
and hopeful as the drugging smell of a memory long lost, sedated his mind.
Yugi looked down at the puzzle,
vaguely remembering the sense of completeness as he slipped the final piece
into place. The air seemed to freeze, the wind stilled, and the voice abruptly
stilled. Yugi looked at his hands as though he was waking from a dream, and had
just a moment to question his actions, as the sound of a stone door grinding
open, filled his mind, and then Yugi was consumed by blackness.
�ii
n antyw kkwy��

~*~

�Tw stp n mdw Hna
sm m-bAH wi, s3p?�
Yugi awoke to darkness, the voice
from the hedge maze, clear and loud in the area that he was now laying in.
Uncertain, Yugi blinked, trying not to panic when the utter blackness refused
to lift leaving him blind. I�m in hell�
that�s the only way to describe this� it�s hell� has to be! Yugi shivered, pushing up and against whatever
made up the floor, feeling the rough, cold stone, under a damp veil, he could
only assume to be mist.
The regal voice from before was
accompanied by a deeper voice, one that made Yugi cringe. Who ever the second
person was, he sounded crazy, and definitely dangerous. From the way he spoke,
Yugi got the impression that the crazy person was mocking the regal voice, and
enjoyed doing so immensely.
�wn ntTn anxwy, pr-aA! antyw iri nn
snd ntk, m-t.� The crazy
one then laughed, and the sound ripped a whimper from Yugi�s throat cutting off
the regal voice as he began his annoyed reply.
�wxz! isfty, mAr xprr,
ntk�� a deathly silence filled the room, and Yugi
held his breath, trying not to move, as he clenched his eyes closed, mind
thinking of the ostrich theory.
If you can�t
see them, they can�t see you.
Obviously, the ostrich theory was
about as bright as the bird itself. Yugi felt the presence of the two others
surround him, their auras dark and vengeful. Yugi shivered, a gasping whimper
escaping him when he realized that it
would do him no good to remain quiet.
The two shadows started to converse
quickly between themselves, pausing every once in a while to ask him something,
but they spoke so quickly it was hard to keep up.
The voice spoke towards him, and
Yugi had the distinct impression that he was being asked how he�d gotten into
this place. Like I actually know that?!
If I knew, I wouldn�t be here! I�d be in my room, with the lights on, calling
Jonouchi and asking him to find me a very good psychiatrist! Yugi thought
testily, uncertain of how to answer the converging creatures that spoke to him.
Was it even wise to speak to these beings?
�ntk Asw st. ntTn
iwit, ntk Asw m-t.� the
voice took on a frightening edge, and Yugi felt his insides bottom out. He got
the feeling that he was being threatened, and started to whimper in light fear.
His instincts told him to run, to fight, to survive, but the blackness held him
prisoner, and he was unable to move.
�� Taskete ore� onegai� okaa-chan�� Yugi whispered, pulling himself into a ball,
locking his arms around himself and rocking back and forth lightly. There was a
shuffling of sound, and shock permeated the room for several moments. Then, the
two began to argue once more. The raised angry voices returned memories to
Yugi�s mind, and he pressed his hands to his ears feeling as though he were six
years old once again.
A sharp bark of laughter caused Yugi
to jump, and to still himself, growing silent as he recognized it to be the
crazy presence that had drawn close to him.
�wxz, Sm Hr awy!�
The voice was a low growl next to
his ear, and with the sound came a puff of moist breath. Yugi�s mind simply
blanked out. His breathing stopped, frozen in his lungs as his mind tore back
down bloody corridors and darkened hallways to stand beside a rusted metal
door. It was cracked open slightly, black trendles of smoke escaping from
inside. He could hear things inside of the room, things he desperately wished
to forget. He mentally screamed at the dim glow that illuminated the darkness.
It was an old lamp light, stained with the nicotine from smoke exhalation,
giving the room and orange tinge. No� no�
No� NO!
Yugi screamed in the darkness, and
pulled himself into a tight hug, reaching for some sort of security, some sort
of light that would banish the smoke filled room of memories to bitter to
stand. Forgetting the two entities in the darkness with him, Yugi began to
mutter under his breath, naming the things that made him happy.
�Jonouchi, Honda, Shizuka, Dual
Monsters, sunshine, flowers, wind, sand, Egypt, Mama, Daddy, Jii-chan�� Closing
his eyes tightly he pretended that he was in a room of complete white,
surrounded by those who protected him from the pain. Remembering the happy
times he�d shared with each of them, scanning through all of his memories,
searching for a fragment of reality that could save him from his mental
torrent.
Then he found
it.

Warm
sunlight lit the center of the hedge maze as the little boy ran around the
bench in the center, giggling and laughing. He loved the maze, here he could
see his friend as more than a trick of light and a wisp of smoke against a
wall. Here they could almost see each other clearly, though not nearly as well
as when they were together in the inner rooms.
Yugi
laughed more loudly, standing on the benches edge and looked up into the bright
crimson eyes, imprisoned in a dark face. features were defined by multiple
shade of shadow aside from that, Yami looked the same.
�Yami,
Taskete Yugi!� Yugi cried, hunching down and diving from the pedestal�s edge.
His arms stretched above his head as though he could fly. The gravel would hurt
if he landed on it, but Yugi knew that Yami would never allow that to happen.
His thoughts were proven as the shadow dove, his arms catching the small boy
and pulling him close, gracefully spinning pulling more laughter from the small
child, as the boy clutched the darkness trustingly.
�Mou
yamete, Yami!� Yugi giggled, and his friend stilled,
moving back to sit on the sun warmed bench, pulling Yugi closer to his heart,
or what he assumed was his heart at least.
�nfr
mry. ntk nt wi� ntk
nt wi� akhu��
�Yami
wa, Yugi no!� Yugi responded, hugging the other back, oblivious to what he was
promising with his words. �Zuuto ya zuuto!�
The
shadow smiled, his eyes kind and warm, as he tenderly stroked Yugi�s cheek. �anx Dt? temti-t,
anx Dt�nsp.�
With a thoughtful frown he placed Yugi back on his feet, and the child took off
once more, already forgetting the moment and his vow to belong to his shadowed
friend forever. Living eternally in the future together.

�� Yami�� Yugi whispered, and a
feeling of warm comfort encased him. Yugi smiled, reaching for that feeling
with everything he had. He didn�t care what was bringing the feeling to him,
who or what it was about or even meant. He was no longer afraid, and that was
all that mattered in Yugi�s mind.
A choked sob caught Yugi�s attention,
and he tilted his head, looking in the direction of the sound, and realized
with a deep shock that he could see himself in the darkness. In fact, he seemed
to glow. The fact alone should have scared him into a coma, but with everything
else he�d found and seen this day, himself glowing seemed like a rather small
accomplishment.
�� akhu�� The whispered words were a
shaky sound that drew Yugi�s attention from his oddly glowing hand, and up to a
pare of crimson eyes. Yugi gasped, shocked-still at the face that was toward
him, gaping in astonishment at blood red eyes filled with painful hope and
elation. Uncertainty filled Yugi�s chest as he was able to clearly see the
other�s face. Carmled skin over sharp cheekbones and a defined chin, sun
bleached, golden bangs framed his face drawing attention to the deep crimson
eyes. A shock of black hair shot up from his head, in much the same way that
Yugi�s did, though this one�s hair seemed to hold deep ruby highlights, and
streaks of yellow heat lightening dispatched with in the dark ebony. His eyes
were outlined in kohl, making their slanted appearance more apparent, and from
the white dress like attire and purple, tattered, cape, Yugi could tell that he
must have been from a time before pants. Either that or this man was a
cross-dresser.
A soul breaking smile softened the
features of the man, as again he whispered the word Yugi was beginning to
understand as �light.� For a moment, he pondered over the possibility that he
was commenting on Yugi�s glow, or weather he thought of him as the light. How is any of this possible� this� this
can�t be�
�akhu��
�Yami.� Yugi whispered, blinking up
at the person he had once called friend, and cried out in shock as a deep
elated smile lit the Egyptian�s face, and he darted forward grasping Yugi to
him in a tight hug. Yugi cried out in shock, stiffening in fright as he felt
the warmth from Yami�s form.
His moist breath fanned Yugi�s ear
when he spoke next, and Yugi shivered at the word. �biAw!� The hug grew tighter
and pressed Yugi closer to the thing he had been certain to have been an
imaginary friend, and nothing more. Yugi felt a grinding sensation in his mind,
as though two pieces of a puzzle were pulling into place. Yugi blinked, holding
still in the other�s arms, a sense or rightness consuming him, and the pieces
slid into place with a soft snick.
A doorway opened, and Yugi let out a
breath of air, the murmured words of Yami, becoming clearer, until it felt to
Yugi as though his Egyptian friend was merely speaking Japanese.
�ntk nt wi� ntk
nt me� ntk belong to me�
you belong to me. Mine, my light�I found you!� Yami�s voice was strained with
emotions, and Yugi trembled, debating whether he should return the hold and
comfort the distraught man or not, when Yami turned and nuzzled Yugi�s neck,
breathing him in deeply.
Panic took
hold once more.

Hands,
pushing, hitting, laughing, pulling, guiding, smacking, holding. A hot breath
of air, whispered threats, the stench of booze, tonight he�d die. Tonight he
would kill him�

Yugi�s eyes dilated and he began to
struggle, pushing against the chest that he was held against, twisting his body
to try and free himself from his captor. �No! Let me go! Hanashite
ore! Hanashite!� Yugi cried, now beginning to kick. The
arms tightened and lifted Yugi from the floor so that he now rested in the
other�s embrace alone. Yugi�s heart pummeled faster and harder against his
ribs.
�iri nn snd, akhu. nsp,
antyw mr, nsp.� The words
were clear in his mind now, and they did little to calm him. �Do not fear,
light. Together, my love, together.�
Yugi struggled harder, finally
snapping altogether. Yugi turned his head and bit down harshly on the neck of
his captor. He heard the loud yelp, and hiss of pain as he was finally
released, and Yugi dropped to his rump, instantly crawling away.
�akhu?� Yami asked, looking hurt and
confused, one hand raise to his bruised neck, the other out stretched toward
him. Yugi jumped and snarled, crouching low into the defensive stance that
Jonouchi had taught him.
�S�stay back!� Yugi cried out, and
saw as the other flinched away at his angered tone.
�akhu� why��
�Damn it pr-aA, what did you do to
him?� The low curse reminded Yugi of the other presence in the room, but when
he moved to see the other, he was unable to see anything but a shadowy figure.
His eyes widened as more fear poured through him. Again Yami cringed, and Yugi
felt a calming comfort fill his mind.
But it did not
belong to him.
�Get out of my head!� Yugi cried,
tears rushing to the surface of his eyes and pouring down his cheeks. It was
all too much to take in, Yugi wanted nothing more than to vanish. To return to
the safety and comfort of his mother, yet he could not, and like a frightened,
caged, animal he shook, paralyzed with fear. The presence in his mind eased
back some and Yami lifted his hands in a non-hostile gesture.
�Calm down akhu, please, I just wish
to see you.� A sad smile lit his angular features and he looked Yugi over
slowly, smirking a little to himself, obviously pleased with what he saw. �It�s
been so long. You�ve grown quite tall my light.�
�Stop calling me that!� Yugi yelled,
when Atemu stepped forward and scrambled back again. �Stay away! Don�t touch
me!�
�I won�t� calm yourself before you
become ill.� Yami said in a low voice. It was a soothing sound, and had Yugi
not been scared out of his mind, he would probably fallen asleep to the croon.
Instead he narrowed his eyes at the man who had been his best friend so many
years ago.
I
am loosing my mind� this must be what a night terror or a schizophrenic episode
must be like� Yugi thought, while pinning Yami with a steady glare. �Why
should I trust you?�
The question seemed to deeply wound
the man before him, and Yugi watched him flinch away from him. The other shadow
in the room seemed almost to slink toward Yami, as though offering him comfort.
Though for some reason, Yugi found that odd even out of character. How can a shadow be out of character? Damn,
when I wake up from this I am getting some serious therapy�
�Because you are my light, as I am
your dark� why would you not trust me?� Yami asked, as though that explained
everything. Yugi gave him a bored look and stood as tall as he could.
�Doesn�t cut it.�
The saddened glare that the other
shot his way made Yugi squirm with guilt for several long moments before again
the shadow turned man spoke, his stature regal and confidant.
�I give you my word as pr-aA. I
swear that when next we touch, it will be at you assent.�
A compelling feeling to trust the
odd man before him, swamped over Yugi, and Yugi licked his lips a few times,
standing up from his crouched position, suddenly exhausted. I�m all ready this far into it� why not?
�You promise?� Yugi asked, squashing
the urge to hold out his pinky finger toward his near look alike. The other
smiled and nodded his head. He wanted to believe him, truly Yugi did, but
another part of him, the part that still feared that steel door that locked out
his memories, was still apprehensive about trusting so blindly. �You� you won�t
force�?� Yugi asked, his voice barely above a whisper, feeling weak and very
frightened.
�Force?!� Yami practically yelled,
and Yugi jumped, backing away again as the darker shadow in the corner muttered
something in hieratic again, and Yugi was certain it was some form of curse.
�Who would��
Yugi glared
into those crimson eyes, and the vengeful rage died quickly, subdued by a
tender warmth as the man nodded. �I promise, akhu. I will not force anything.�
And for some
reason, Yugi believed him.
I really must be crazy�

~*~

Force?!
What is he talking about?! Atemu raged, his saddened eyes locked on the boy
before him. It was the most beautiful thing Atemu had ever seen. It was his
light, all grown up, healthy, and whole. Atemu almost wept with the relief and
joy that flooded through him at the sight of such perfection. � but� he does not remember me� and has been
hurt in some way� The mere thought of someone hurting the boy before him
caused his blood to boil over, and Atemu had to remind himself to block when
the boy jumped and began to shudder once more, wide amethyst eyes darting
around the gateway between worlds nervously.
�You still fear the dark, akhu?�
Atemu tried, and when the boy whipped back around with an annoyed pout, Atemu
managed a grin. Gods he wished to hold the boy, his savior and never again
release him, but he could not do so, and it was tearing him apart. It was so
much more painful than the moment that Yugi had dropped into his tomb when he
was but a child. It had been the first time since his imprisonment that he�d
seen his light again, and so the pain was mingled with joyful reunion, but now,
after seeing and knowing that his loving light was out there, it had been no
less than hell. And I can�t even hold
him� or touch him.
�Where are we?� Yugi asked, and
Atemu shrugged off his anguish to regard the frightened boy. Yugi looked
nervous still, and from the thoughts that ran though his mind, Yugi still
thought that he was mentally unstable.
�At the gate way between your world,
and the Shadow realm.�
�The what?� Yugi asked, sounding
confused and scared. Atemu opened his mouth to respond when his cousin let out
a snarling laugh, answering for him.
�The realm of shadows and demons�
hell.�
Atemu rolled his eyes, understanding
that his cousin�s loss of his h had driven him half mad, and knowing that by
some odd turn, that the man also cared for Yugi as well. He was still annoyed
by the lack of delicacy in the matter.
�Bakura, you are not helping.�
�Shove it, Atemu.� Bakura responded,
quite fond of the slang terms he�d managed to get from his light. A pang struck
Atemu�s heart, and for a moment he ached. Though trapped in the shadow realm
with him, Bakura had one escape aside from the gate way, and that was the soul
room of his light. Even if that was a far cry from true freedom, it was still
something that had left Atemu jealous, until now.
�So, you are an evil spirit!� Yugi
cried out drawing both his and Bakura�s attention to the small boy. He was
holding his head looking mortified and Atemu flinched at the thoughts that
poured through the mind link to him.
Damn it! I freed him! It�s my fault�
damn it! I knew I should have listened to mom!
�akhu, we are not evil spirits,
though Bakura may act like one.� Atemu smirked when his cousin called him
something inappropriate, and made a hand gesture that he did not recognize. �We
are prisoners of this place.� Atemu stated calmly, and smiled at the rational
thoughts of his light as he absorbed the information.
Shadow man is �Bakura�� got it. great so
now we have Pharaoh Darkness and his smoke companion� my teacher�s shadow� They
are trapped in hell, but aren�t evil. Right, and the two psychos are really
geniuses.
The sarcasm in his thoughts both
relieved and unnerved Atemu. The boy seemed bitter, but at least he was no
longer panicking. Atemu started to wonder if, perhaps, the boy was starting to
convince himself that he was making this all up in his head. It would make sense, Bakura�s light
responded in much the same way at first� still, why does he not remember me? I
understand his incomprehension to before all this, but, it�s only been a decade
since we last met, he should at least remember that.
�Right, you�re not an evil spirit,
your just imprisoned in hell, no biggie.� Yugi said, flushing darkly and
clamping a hand over his mouth his mind cursing himself for saying something so
boldly. He flushed darkly ad muttered out an apology, that Atemu simply brushed
aside, and that Bakura snorted at.
�Yes, akhu. We where placed here for
a crime we committed centuries ago. Our souls trapped with in the items that we
desperately searched for in our living days.� Atemu looked down, the pain from
his life still smarting. He desperately wished to hold Yugi to him, to reassure
through touch that the boy was alive. To feel him breath, his heart to beat,
his body warm.
�� So, if you aren�t evil, why are you here? And what do I have to
do with this? And why do you insist on calling me light?!� Yugi yelled, then
sat back looking pensive before another round of questions spilled from him. He
sounded as though he was questioning himself more than anything, and the action
made Yami smile. His little light was so precious. �� and how the hell am I
able to understand you?�
�Doesn�t ask too much, does he?�
Bakura asked snidely, and earned a glare from Yugi. Atemu was aware instantly
of Yugi�s dislike for his cousin and rolled his eyes. He never used to bug you akhu� what has changed you?
�Everything will be explained, so
listen and if you still have questions, you can ask them when I am done. Deal?�
Atemu asked, raising his hands in defense once more to prove that he meant no
harm to Yugi.
�All right.� Yugi said, folding his
harms over his chest and rubbing at a spot just below his breastbone.
�Thank you. Now, just so you may
understand, every soul has two parts to it, Ka and Ba, basically, though not
entirely, this means a �light� half and a �dark� half. Now, before you ask,
yes, you are the light half of my soul, the part torn from me when I was sealed
here. The same has happened to Bakura and his light. You can understand us
because of the link we share being parts of the same whole. Language does not
make a barrier between us, words mean nothing to the soul.� Atemu paused,
wishing that he could touch Yugi�s face, hold his cheek, but he squashed the
feeling quickly. �Now, in this realm of darkness, light, can not survive, that
is why you were stole and sent away to be reborn in the world. You and Bakura�s
light are the only hope we have that we may become free.�
Yugi opened his mouth, and Atemu
rushed on to explain, �Right now we are at the gateway, in other words, we are
just beyond the millennium door that is hidden in the maze. Back in my time it
was in a sacred temple that has long been destroyed by our captor, in hopes
that it would never again be discovered.� Atemu smirked, �But it seems that
fate had other plans.�
�If you are trapped here than how
was I able to see you back then in my world?� Yugi asked, and Atemu glanced his
way, then turned once more.
�I can be in only a few places
outside of this place. There is my tomb, the puzzle, and at the door, but as
you know I can be nothing but a shadow in your world. And I cannot leave the
place unless I am following the puzzle, and only when the puzzle is completed
can I truly escape from this darkness.�
Yugi seemed taken a bake and sat
down on the ground. �� all this time, I thought I�d just made you up�� Yugi
muttered, and at first, Yami refrained fro speaking.
�Yes, when I first felt you near my
resting place, I was certain that I was dreaming. I�d been waiting so long to
see you once more. You were so tiny then, but brave and light, oh such light
and warmth surrounded your being. I was so happy to see you, but I had to give
you the puzzle. You see, I was corrupted by the power of that item, and as
punishment, only you could finish it and free me from my hell, and only when
you forgave me would you complete it.� Atemu paused when Yugi picked up on his
hidden meaning, but the small boy said nothing, and let the matter drop
quickly. � When you finished it, I was so happy, finally, it was over. But
then, something happened. Your mother saw me, and out of fear she took you
away. I wanted to follow but could not, do to� complications.� Atemu muttered
bitterly before finishing his tale. �Then you returned, but out of fear for me,
you shattered the puzzle and returned me to darkness, with only the hope that
you would one day return as promised.� A smile lit his face and Yugi shifted
uncomfortably. �and here you are, akhu.�
There was a long silence as Yugi
absorbed it all, and Atemu took the time to memorize every detail he could
about his other, from the small curve of his button nose, to the wide eyes and
rounded cheeks. His body was small, soft, and tender, appearing so beautiful to
the pharaoh, and his arms felt painfully empty. He had to clutch his hand into
a fist to keep from rushing forward to embrace the boy he loved much more than
life.
�� so, the reason why I was the only
one to enter your tomb and escape un harmed was because, I am you light?�
�Correct. All other�s who dared to
try were condemned to the shadow realm by my guard who protects my secrets and
tomb, or driven mad by myself and Bakura.� Atemu responded, feeling a bit bad
when Yugi shivered, growing quiet once more.
�I think I get this� so, you are
free now, right?� Yugi asked, looking both nervous and excited. He seemed to be
unsure of Atemu�s intentions and innocence in everything, and that hurt Atemu.
It was one thing to not be trusted by his mother, after all she had a reason,
but for his light? �I mean I put the puzzle back together, so that means you
are free, right?�
�Not quite.� Atemu answered in all
honesty, once again shoving his hurt feelings aside. He is alive, and you are with him, that should be enough. Atemu
thought bitterly.
�What do you mean?� Yugi asked, and
this time it was accompanied by genuine curiosity. The lack of sarcasm was a
relief. Atemu glanced toward his cousin, surprised that Bakura had remained
quiet for so long, and wasn�t to surprised to see his eyes glazed-over. The
white haired man was speaking to his light, most likely setting things into
order. � it will finally come to an end�
all we need is Yugi�s trust.
�Until the key is placed in the door
I am only free here and inside your soul room, and now my own with in the
puzzle.�
�Soul room?� Yugi asked sounding
lost, and more than slightly skeptical. Atemu smirked at the opportunity to
bask in his light�s soul once more became apparent, and he walked over to Yugi,
stopping several feet from him, to prove to the boy that he would keep to his
word and not invade his space.
�It is the center of your soul,
almost like a mirror of it. It can show and reflect every dream and wish and
personality trait of a person, if they know how to get there. It�s also a place
of healing for those such as me.� Atemu explained. Yugi seemed interested and
stood to his feet looking thoughtful, and Atemu�s glee rose higher. �Will you
allow me to show you it, akhu?�
Atemu�s heart thundered with in his
chest as he waited for his light to answer. It was so painful waiting, but he
had no other option left. After what felt like eternity, Yugi finally nodded
once, still appearing uneasy. Atemu grinned and made to step closer, and Yugi
jerked back.
A stab of pain
lanced through Atemu�s heart.
�I will not touch you, I just need
to be near enough to your soul to find the door.� Atemu responded, and caught a
small fragment of Yugi�s bitter thoughts. Obviously, he trusted Atemu about as
much as he trusted a cobra. Atemu sighed, this was not how he�d imaged his
reunion with his light to be like. This
must be a part of my punishment�
�How close do you need to be?� Yugi
asked, and Atemu stepped up until only six inches stood between them, he saw Yugi
tense and felt guilty for being the cause.
�This is as close as I will get.�
Atemu said, closing his eyes and searching with his mind for the link between
them. He grasped on to it tightly and followed it back toward Yugi�s end. Atemu
wanted Yugi to make the journey himself, but he had the feeling that Yugi would
not trust him if he asked the boy to close his eyes, so he forcefully dragged
Yugi with him leaving the gateway as though they had fallen away into water
droplets.
Yugi�s stunned gasp alerted Atemu to
their shift, and he opened crimson eyes eagerly to see the soul he�d known so
intimately in two life times. The ivory
walls, the brightly colored toys, and windows, crayon pictures, and inked
papyrus. A child�s bed, still messy and unmade, with cards and toys hidden away
inside the sheets� Atemu�s breath left him harshly as he gazed around the
room in disbelief.
�W�what in Ra has happened here?�
Atemu�s voice was but a whisper, but he felt Yugi tense and spin toward him
suddenly nervous.
�What do you mean? Has it� changed?�
Yugi asked, looking around his room for the first time. Atemu chose not to
answer as he made his way to the walls running his hand over the light
bluish-grey tint that clung there. It was reflecting Yugi�s inner pain and sadness.
A sadness that had lingered for quite some time. He�s been so sad� but why, and how?
Atemu looked around the room.
Several toys still littered the area, but most where broken now, and the rest
seemed to be thrown carelessly in a chest, with a large lock on it�s front. The
colorful pictures were falling off the walls, and the windows had dark curtains
covering them. Yugi had locked himself away inside, holding onto what he used
to have like a worn teddy bear, and sobbing as time pulled it away from him.
The bed was now made, and the toys were removed, replaced with a bat that
rested there, and as he looked closer, Atemu noticed that the bat was
splattered with blood.
Fear gripped his heart and made him
nauseous as he followed the little trail of red to a corner of the room. Atemu
let out a choked sound when he spotted the reason for the changes in Yugi�s
soul, and shivered at the implications. �
what has happened to you� akhu�
A pool of deep rust surrounded a
black box, that seemed to pulse and throb with pus, like an old festering
wound. It�s lock was torn from it�s hinges and appeared to be glued back into
place. Silver strips surrounded the edges, and Atemu seemed to recall Yugi
calling it duct tape, when he was little. So
this is the extent of your pain� dear Ra, what has happened?
The box was a symbol of a wound to
the soul, and its pus showed that it had never been treated or tended to. The
blood was a notation that it was still fresh, and the locks showed that he was
trying to forget the pain.
A pain that
had never healed.

~**~

Ending Theme:
�Beads of Tears�
```
 Like a meteor, like the fate it seals,
```
```
My soul burns across the sky, close upon it's heels.
```
```
As you once told me, there's a land of dreams
```
```
Where your soul is never done; it goes on and on...
```
```
Promise me you'll never leave me, tell me without words;
```
```
Am I alone or am I not?
```
```
On that day, you held me in your arms,
```
```
But was it confusion? Was it an answer?
```
```
Beads Of Tears
```
```
Your voice is calling me, but why can't I hear you? Why can't I answer?
```
```
Beads Of Tears
```
```
The rosary of all our fears;
```
```
The prayers of our eternal years; all disappear...
```
```
In this life, we'll never love again, but I'll keep you with me, treasure
```
```
your memory
```
```
Beads Of Tears
```
```
However will I get through until the next time, until the next life?
```
```
Beads Of Tears
```
```
The rosary of all our fears;
```
```
The prayers of our eternal years; all disappear...
```
A.N. Wow, another long
chapter. Sorry if the ending was rushed. I spent so much time building up Yugi
I forgot how to write Atemu� 0.0. I know Bakura was out of character, but that
also has a reason behind it, and just so you know, in that realm one can only
clearly see their own dark half, that is why Bakura is but a shadow to Yugi.
^-^ Once again, the words are hieratic BUT they are NOT grammatically correct,
unless by some flaw I managed to do it� so, whatever. ^-^ I hope you like it so
far, and I hope you are all really curious about what all is going on. ^-^
Please, please, please review and expect an update for Memories sometime this
week, along with the final chapter to Mou Hitori no Boku�

Translations:

Hieratic:

sDr, akhu, sDr n
nqdd: Lie down, light, lie down to sleep.

ii n antyw kkwy: Come to my darkness.

nDs akhu� antyw mr:
Small light� my love/wish/desire (You can interpret. ^-^)

temti-t akhu� temti-t:
Future (or as close as you can get to it anyway. ^-^) light�. Future. (aka, Yami�s telling him that they�ll get married in the
future. ^-^)

nfr akhu, nfr Xrd� antyw akhu, nqdd: Good beloved, good child� my
light, sleep.

gmi ntk, mry: found (find) you, beloved.

mrwt ntk, antyw
akhu. nDs mrwt: Love you,
my light. Small love.

Tw Stp n mdw
Hna sm m-bAH wi, s3p? : You dare to speak
with hate in the presence of me, son of Ra? (Taken from Blood moon in this conext. ^-^ She so rocks!)

Wn ntTn antyw, pr-aA! antyw iri nn snd
ntk m-t : Open your ears, pharaoh! I do not fear you,
dead man.

wxz! isfty, mAr xprr, ntk�:
Fool! Evil, wretched, beetle, you�

wxz, Sm Hr awy! : Fool, depart immediately! (Sp?)

ntk Asw st ntTn iwit, ntk
Asw m-t: You are here. Your wrong doing, you are a
dead man.

nfr mry. ntk nt wi... ntk nt wi.: Beautiful beloved. You belong to me... you belong to me.

anx Dt? temti-t, anx Dt... nsp.: Living eternally? Future, Living eternally... together.

Nfr mry, ntk nt wi: Beautiful beloved, you
belong to me.

biAw: Mine.

akhu: Light (also subject to controversy)

Japanese:

Demo, Yugi wa nemimasen: But, Yugi is not
sleepy.

Yuigi: meaningful/useful (Yugi�s father�s
name has a purpose.)

Chisai no ko: My
small child.

Anata wa�: You�

Yakusoku yo: Promise.

Yami, Yugi wa daisuki: Yami, Yugi really
likes you. (AKA in Japan when using the term daisuki
when refuring to a person, it usually means love, not
like.)

Yami wa, Yugi no!: Yami is Yugi's!

Taskete ore onegai, okaa-chan: Save me
please, mother.

Hanashite ore: Let me go!

Once again, please
review! ^-^

Lechan~
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The Key of Ra