Ennead: The True King

Yugi was exhausted as she dumped her bag just inside her bedroom door and collapsed onto her bed. Even with the spectacularly good news of Jou winning tickets to India, the day had been long and hectic. First there had been the English test, then trying to organise Jou and Honda to do their homework and finally when she had escaped school, there had been a small army of Duellists waiting outside the gates to challenge her.

‘You alright, Imoto-chan?’ Oneesan worried at her, easily able to sense how exhausted Yugi was and concerned that she had kept her little sister up too long the night before.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Yugi smiled brightly back at her, pushing away the tiredness to try and reassure her darker self even as replying mind to mind slipped her thoughts entirely, “Just didn’t get much sleep last night and it’s been a hectic day, that’s all.”

Oneesan frowned even as she nodded her understanding. She too was tired of the constant challenges to their title and for their god monsters, though she enjoyed every victory, and she hadn’t had to deal with nightmares on top of everything else.

Yugi, however, caught her frown, “I’m okay, promise.” She tried to reassure the former-Pharaoh, “I just need a nap. That’s all.”

‘Then go sleep.’ Oneesan made a shooing gesture as she spoke, ‘I’ll wake you in time for dinner.’

“Can’t.” Yugi sighed, rolling over and sitting up, “I have homework to do. I have to keep my grades up, remember? We promised Grandpa.”

‘Don’t worry about the homework. Not now. You’re too tired to think straight.’ Oneesan pointed out, ‘You’ll do much better if you get a couple of hours of sleep in first.’

Yugi hesitated for a moment before acknowledging Oneesan’s point and collapsed back against the bed, rolling onto her side and slipping quickly into sleep. Oneesan shook her head in amusement before taking over the body, careful not to disturb her sleeping sister. She shouldn’t have worried, bar a slight, telepathic grumble, Yugi didn’t notice being displaced, allowing Oneesan to pull out their school work and settle at the desk.

She had finished the maths and was halfway through their English passage translation when she felt fear course through her little sister, not a sharp, acute fear, but a softer, sleeping one. Turning her attention inwards, Oneesan entered Yugi’s soul room swiftly, only to find the girl in the throes of yet another nightmare.  

“Oneesan.” Yugi whimpered, fear intensifying. Her big sister darted over to the side of her bed, just reaching Imoto-chan’s bedside in time to catch the girl as she bolted out of bed.

“I’m here Imoto-chan.” Oneesan promised a barely awake Yugi as her lighter other self tried to pull herself together.

“Oneesan.” Yugi breathed, the fear trailing away as she took in her surroundings and realised that her older sister was fine, taking a moment longer before hugging Oneesan tightly.