Light Amongst Shadows Part 23

Ojiisan paled slightly at the implications of Oneesan’s words but Jou was confused as he asked, “Oneesan? What do you mean?”

“No Imoto-chan.” Oneesan replied, still glowering at the item, “Shadows want me back. Can’t have. I’m Imoto-chan’s, not theirs. I won’t let them take me.”

It took Jou a moment to decipher what Oneesan was talking about and then he paled too. Without Yugi around the Shadows were trying to drag Oneesan back into the Puzzle and if there was no soul in the body, it could die and they would lose Yugi for good.

“Keep fighting just a little longer.” Jou reassured the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, “We’ll have Yuge back soon, okay?”

“I know.” There was utter faith in Oneesan’s tone and gaze, “Just hurts.” She clutched her hand to her chest, just over where her heart was.

“It’ll be okay.” Ojiisan was the one who reassured the steadily slipping spirit, though he was not entirely sure he was not lying to her. “Jou.”

“Right.” Jou heard the underlying order in Ojiisan’s tone and nodded sharply. Oneesan was hurt, Yugi was gone, someone had to take their place in the ‘chain of command’ as Marik had once sneeringly called it. Ojiisan was a lot more level headed about this than Jou could bring himself to be, so it was to Yugi’s grandfather that he turned to for advice and orders. He slipped into the house first, carefully but quickly moving up the stairs to find Honda and Anzu were waiting by the door.

“Yugi! Jou!” Anzu yelped, panic obvious in her features as Jou moved around her to lay Oneesan on the sofa, “What happened?”

“Before we tell you guys anything, give Jonouchi those puzzle pieces.” Ojiisan answered, looking between the pair sharply. Both of them had had enough experience with the weirdness that followed Yugi around on a bimonthly basis to know better than to ask questions when one of their own was hurt and they both handed over their soul fragments.

With six of the seven restored to it, the light settled on Oneesan, who held it close. It’s light seeming to ease the tug on her soul somewhat. “One more.” The spirit of the Puzzle breathed, “Just one more.”

“One more what?” Honda demanded, “What’s going on?”

“That light?” Jou asked with a frown, wondering where the hell they were going to find the last piece. “It’s Yuge’s soul.”

“WHAT?” Both yelped.

“Imoto-chan gave herself.” Oneesan explained it again, still hugging the orb like a teddy bear, “Her whole self. To save everyone.”

“Remember Pegasus?” Jou asked, “When Yugi nearly killed herself in order to give Oneesan a fighting chance?” When the other two nodded he carried on, “As far as I can work out, same deal, except this time we were snoozing instead of helping and her soul shattered.”

“It did what?” Anzu squeaked, watching the ball with a lot more concern and fear now.

“That’s what those lights were.” Honda realised, “They’re Yugi. Or parts of her.”

“That’s right.” Jou nodded, shaking Oneesan when she nearly fell asleep again, “Not yet, ‘Neesan. Need that last fragment first.”

“Last fragment?” Anzu asked, seeming confused and relieved, “You mean you’ve almost found all the pieces of her soul?”

“Only broke into seven.” Oneesan replied, her disorientation getting worse for the constant shaking which was keeping her awake. “All with friends.”

“Which is where we have a problem.” Jou admitted, “We’ve already gotten Bakura’s piece and the ones with you guys were no brainers, but I have no idea where the last piece of Yugi is and Oneesan...”

“Is fruit looped.” Honda frowned, understanding.

“Not.” Oneesan protested, managing to sit up in order to glare at Honda, “Just tired. Really tired.”

“If you can’t get off the sofa, you can’t come with...” Jou face palmed as at his ultimatum, Oneesan forced herself off of the sofa and to her feet.

“No resting. Not until Imoto-chan’s safe.” The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle growled at him, even as she had to lean on the back of the couch to stay upright, “No matter what it takes, I won’t fail her again.”

“You have about as much clue as we do.” Jou snapped back, “Sit down before you fall...” The doorbell rang, causing Jou to let out a frustrated, furious snarl, “Can I finish talking?” He asked Honda as Sugoroku headed down to answer it.

“Apparently not.” Honda shrugged, moving towards the door to the stairs. Jou might have a bit relaxed now that they were in the safety of the Game Shop, but until Honda knew for certain that Yugi would be alright and all of the mooks had left the city, he would not.

He could hear Ojiisan talking to someone. Someone who was loud and irritable.