C.N. April 2014: Digital Distraction Part 8

The fallout from the mess the virus created within the system caused so much work over the next few days that when a group trip to the cinema was suggested, Kari and Ombre had to decline.

It was a shame, since it had been partly suggested to show Yami and Ombre what films could be like for themselves and so they could all enjoy some normal entertainment for a change, but the others understood. The Duel Disk system was ‘down for maintenance,’ Duellists everywhere were going mental and Kaiba Corp’s investors were bailing like mad.

Fixing what had been broken by the invaders was more important than a cinema trip and Ombre refused to leave her hikari’s side until she could be certain the men who had broken into Kaiba Corp wouldn’t be back.

The day of the cinema visit Yugi had risked trying to work the shop while Yami had a day off. When the store had seemed to be quiet all morning, Yami had been dragged off to the nearest arcade by Joey to have a bit of fun for a change.

Unfortunately with it being a Saturday the shop went mental after lunch time when the Japanese schools, who weren’t on summer break yet, let out for the day. Yami came home to pick up Yugi for the cinema trip to find his grandfather had shut down the shop a little early and left a note saying he was heading out to meet a friend, while Yugi was crashed out on the sofa, out like a light.

“Yugi?” He asked, shaking his light. Yugi started awake, blinking at him blearily.

“Hey.” Yugi yawned, already beginning to fall asleep again, “’M ready to go...”

“I don’t think we should go today.” Yami smiled at him gently. “You’re shattered. Maybe working today wasn’t such a good idea.”

“Was ‘kay.” Yugi mumbled, forcing himself to sit up and stare at his darker self, “Just busy...” He paused and thought for a moment before slipping the Puzzle off and shoving it at Yami, “You go.”

“What?” Yami half yelped in surprise, having not suspected that from Yugi.

“You go.” Yugi repeated himself, shoving the Puzzle at Yami, “Take it with you. Have fun. Shouldn’t miss out because I’m tired.”

“But...” Yami started as he took the Puzzle from Yugi and slipped the chain over his head.

“Go!” Yugi chuckled, sinking back down and pulling a cushion over his head. “I’m asleep.”

“Are you sure?” Yami asked, pulling the cushion off, causing Yugi to groan, “I don’t want...”

“They’re your friends too.” Yugi mumbled, opening one eye, which gazed at him, “I go, I’ll pay to sleep through the movie. And we’re home. Home is safe. Go. Shoo.”

“Only if you go to bed.” Yami finally gave in, helping Yugi to his feet and following him to his room, watching with concern as Yugi tripped over his own feet and stumbled into the bedroom, collapsing on the bed without getting changed. “You can’t go to sleep like that.” Yami chuckled, poking Yugi in the side.

“Watch me.” Yugi grumbled. “Go ‘way, you’ll be late.”

“Yugi, come on.” Yami grinned as he pulled Yugi sitting, “Bedclothes.” He passed Yugi a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. “Get changed before you pass out again.”

“Fine.” Yugi grouched, taking them, “Now shoo.”

“I’m going, I’m going.” Yami laughed, “Sleep well, I’ll see you in the morning.”

Yugi waited until Yami had left the room and then flopped back again, dropping the bed clothes in a pile as he did so. He was asleep again before Yami had locked the door on his way out.

Ennead: Season Zero Chapter 23 Sneak Peak

Yugi didn’t need much coaxing to come and settle at her Grandfather’s side as he settled on the sofa, happy to leave Jou to cook something that was resembling food more and more with every meal. She cuddled into him, relaxing as he hugged her. She had been tense for days after Death-T, still partly convinced that everything that had happened was her fault. Even now, a week and a half later she sought out their company, silently enjoying what had nearly been ripped away from her, but didn’t join in their games and laughter. Tonight was no different.

It was almost, Sugoroku mused as he watched the frustration crossing Jonouchi’s features when Yugi didn’t join him in playing for yet another night in a row, instead watching as he completed yet another chapter of some video game, as if she didn’t think she deserved to have fun.

It hurt to see her like this. Watching her regress into the quiet, shy little mouse she had been pre-Puzzle was painful. He missed the bouncy, happy, energetic girl she had become over the last few months. 

It was partly his fault she had withdrawn so far. When they had gotten to the hospital, he had still been in emergency surgery and the Doctor had told Yugi the truth of his condition. A condition that had been brought on by Kaiba’s ‘Penalty Game.’ He had emerged from the surgery whole and healthy, feeling much better, in fact, than he had for a while but the damage had been done.

Yugi had barely left his side since. He didn’t think he could blame her. He had been just as terrified about losing her as she had about losing him. He had been so afraid that she would not make it. That Kaiba’s malicious games would rob him of the last remaining member of his family. He did not think he could have survived it if he had had to return to the Game Shop, knowing that Yugi was never going to come home.

To know she was safe, that she had made it through the trials she had taken on purely to ensure his safety, eased most of the remaining stress on his heart and made breathing easier. Now if he could just mend her heart, his own would be just fine.

He had tried to reassure her that it wasn’t her fault. That he didn’t blame her for Kaiba’s actions. He had even offered to help her merge his deck and hers into something new, just for her. However she had turned him down, just handing the deck back and shaking her head. A first sign, maybe, of the state she had spiralled into.

He couldn’t help but wonder what the Pharaoh thought. Whether the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle was as frustrated as Yugi’s other friends or whether she felt guilty about what Kaiba had done too. It wasn’t like he could ask his other granddaughter. Not without something happening to Yugi to make her come out.

He was sure that given the right impetus Yugi would be okay but he couldn’t help but worry. He wasn’t quite sure what to do to fix the problem. Normally he would have offered her a game or two from the store to help lift her mood, but he did not think it would help. Not when he didn’t have anything new to encourage her curiosity.

Not till tomorrow at least. He was pretty sure that the new game that was due to arrive in store would at least get her playing again. She wouldn’t be able to help herself. She never had been able to resist the latest releases. From there he was sure her friends could draw her out of her shell once more. Despite their frustration he could see that they only wanted to help her.

Yugi retired to her room early again, leaving a ticked off Jou and a worried Sugoroku behind.

“If she were a guy I’d’ve smacked her by now.” Jou huffed, irritated as he watched her go. “It wasn’t her fault Kaiba was a psycho and the sooner she works that out the better.”

“I have a plan.” The elderly gamer reassured him, smiling slightly at the confirmation of his suspicions. “Just give it a little longer.”

“I hope it works.” Jou replied, shutting down the games console as he did so. “Can I help?”

“Actually you’re kind of vital.” Sugoroku chuckled lightly, “Got something new coming in tomorrow. I’ll be giving you and Yugi freebies.”

“But Yuge’s not playing...” Jou paused, curiosity kicking in, “Wait, how new?”

“Brand new release. Out for sale tomorrow.” He informed the teen, amused by the way the thought of a new game had derailed the blonde.

“That could work.” Jou nodded thoughtfully.

“We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Shaman King Mix? Part 2

“But I thought Shamans were people who interacted with the world of spirits.” Solomon froze at the door to his Grandson’s hospital room, “So why did he call me one?”

Shaman. Now that was a title he hadn’t heard in years. He supposed it was one that, in a way, it was one that applied to him, since he could, in fact see and interact with ghosts, a fact he had discovered when he’d been rescued by the spirit of a King who had looked rather like Yugi.

“Well, you do have Yami.” Tea’s voice replied, “I suppose that might be why…”

Solomon had researched what it could mean, discovered what it meant and had kept it to himself, having never wanted the responsibility that had come with it and he hadn’t been sorry when the same gift had failed to show up in his daughter.

But it appeared it had, as Solomon had feared when Yugi had started talking to himself and his grandfather had seen the spirits that haunted Yugi and his friends, skipped a generation and was fully awake in his Grandson.

Finding out now was a nightmare. With the Shaman King Tournament coming up, Shaman from around the world would be heading to the Japan and even if Yugi wasn’t involved as a combatant, his guardian ghost, this ‘Yami’, was apparently powerful enough to attract attention.

He had no idea how to train his Grandson to defend himself. He would just have to hope that no one else came after Yugi for his spirit.

“Maybe.” Yugi sighed, “I think that’s the first time anyone’s come after me with a sword though.” And on that note Solomon pushed open the door and the conversation stopped. “Hey Grandpa.” Yugi smiled nervously from his hospital bed, well aware that Yami had darted into the Puzzle the instant the door handle had turned.

“I’m relieved you’re alright.” Solomon said, shutting the door behind him. “But from what I heard, it sounds like I have some explaining to do. You should bring your guardian ghost out so we can talk.”

“I…I don’t know what you mean.” Yugi stammered as Tea gave Solomon a startled look.

“Don’t lie to me, Yugi.” Solomon scolded his grandson, “I overheard the tail end of your conversation, I know that the person who attacked you called you a Shaman. Now, bring out your guardian ghost.”

Yugi looked nervous but he nodded and his eyes went blank for a moment or two, then the ghost who lived within the Millennium Puzzle appeared and bowed to Solomon.

“Grandpa, this is Yami.” Yugi said nervously, “He’s been my protector since I completed the Millennium Puzzle.”

Yami bowed to Solomon. The old gamer hid a smile at the spirit’s posture. The ghost, who looked incredibly like his Grandson, was nervous, not that anyone but a gamer of the highest calibre, or someone who could read micro expressions, would be able to tell. The spirit turned to Yugi and the pair of them, Shaman and guardian ghost, looked at each other for a moment or two, then Yugi looked at his Grandfather.  

“Yami says…”

“Let him speak for himself, Yugi.” Solomon held up a hand to silence his Grandson, earning himself a startled look from both lookalikes.

“It is an honour to meet you.” Yami said, unsure whether his voice would be heard by the master gamer.

“The same, though I believe I have met you before.” Solomon’s reply made Yugi jump, Yami look confused and Tea to give him a startled look. “In fact I believe I’m the one who led you to Yugi.”

“You… led Yami to me?” Yugi looked confused. “I mean, I know you gave me the Puzzle, but I thought Yami was dormant before I completed it…” Yugi paused and gave his Grandfather a strange look. “How can you even see or hear him?”

“This isn’t my first run in with spirits, Yugi.” Solomon told him, “The man who attacked you was a Shaman, just as I am.”

“You, Grandpa?” Yugi looked shocked.

“That’s not quite true.” Solomon considered, “I have the abilities but none of the training. I didn’t find out until my early forties that I had them, probably brought on by one too many near death experiences, and nowadays I’m too old to teach any new tricks.” He sighed, “It would be better to say that I have the potential.” He looked at Yugi, “You however, appear to have mastered integration without any training at all.”

“What is integration?” Yami asked. “Our attacker mentioned it, but we don’t know what it is.”

“Integration… it’s the joining of a Shaman and a ghost within the Shaman’s body. Like when you take control of Yugi’s body.” Solomon explained. He paused and considered the spirit carefully, “You’re Egyptian. Yami is a Japanese word, so what is your real name?”

“Yami.” Tea spoke up, confused by the turn of events, but, since this wasn’t the weirdest thing that had happened to them, she wasn’t too worried. She just wished she could see Yami and hear him as Yugi’s grandfather could, “His name, at least nowadays, is Yami.”

“Nowadays?”

“Yami doesn’t remember anything of his previous life.” Yugi gave his dark a small, slightly sad smile, “Everything before I completed the Puzzle is a complete blur. It’s part of the reason he’s still here, I think.”

“No name, no afterlife.” Solomon nodded, understanding. “So you have no memories of your tomb? Or of your time on the throne?”

Yami shook his head. “No. I don’t. I wish I did but…”

“It must be something to do with the Puzzle’s completion then.” Solomon thought carefully, “Because I once met you in your tomb, before I took the Puzzle box.”

“You did?” Yami looked astonished, “I… I have no memory of that.”

“I did. In fact that was the first time you saved my life.” Solomon nodded, “You helped me after I’d been shot by one of my guides and asked me to look after your Puzzle, which I did until some monster,” And he gave his Grandson a look that caused Yugi to smile slightly, “Found it and tried to put it together, then I passed it on to him.”

“And I’m glad you did.” Yami received a grin from his hikari that he returned in the form of a small smile, “Life with Yugi is rarely boring.”

“It’s only going to get more dangerous from here on in.” Solomon warned. “With the Shaman King Tournament coming up, more Shamans are going to come looking for powerful spirits and you were, according to legends, one of the most powerful Pharaohs of Egypt.”

“Then just being around will put Yugi in…” Yami turned to his hikari, whose hands went protectively to the Puzzle.

“No, Yami. I won’t shatter the Puzzle. I won’t lose you to protect myself.” Yugi’s determination was something that made his Grandfather proud, even as it frustrated the Pharaoh who wanted nothing more than the safety of his partner even above the return of his memories, and amused Tea.

“If you’re serious about keeping Yami, then you’re going to need training.” Solomon told the determined sixteen year old who hadn’t long come out of hospital after being trapped in that fire, “As you are, you couldn’t hope to defeat a Shaman who has trained for the tournament.”

“As to that…” Yugi started, then bit his lower lip and shut up.

“What?” Solomon demanded.

“I think Yugi’s referring to the Shadow Games.” Tea said carefully. “They kind of give him and Yami an edge over anyone bigger and stronger than them.”

“Shadow Games?” Solomon asked, staring at his Grandson, “You’ve…” Well that explained why, for the last two years, ghosts had been avoiding their house. The Shadows were dangerous, especially to unprotected souls, and he didn’t doubt that most ghosts wouldn’t want to risk it.

“It’s a… talent of mine.” Yami smirked slightly, “I don’t play them very often, but when I do it’s always for a good reason.”

“It was how we got away from the Shaman that attacked us today.” Yugi added in Yami’s defence, “He’d have had my head otherwise.”

It would have worried Solomon that Yugi spoke so calmly of someone trying to kill him, if it hadn’t been for the way that Yugi’s hands had balled into fists and the slight shudder that had coursed through his Grandson when he’d spoken of the attack, all subconscious of course, Yugi was trying not to show he was afraid in front of Tea and his Grandfather.

“Not all Shaman will agree to play your games, Yami.” Solomon warned, “You won’t be able to rely on that forever.”

Silence fell for a few moments, then Yugi spoke up. “If I want to protect Yami. I need to be stronger.” Tea and Solomon almost missed Yugi’s quiet murmur, “I’m not strong enough to protect us from Marik, and I’m not strong enough to protect us from this new threat either.”

“Who is Marik?” Solomon asked, concerned by Yugi’s shift in mood and the scowl that blossomed on Yami’s face when Yugi mentioned the name ‘Marik’.

“The fire? In the warehouse? The one that I nearly…” Yugi took a deep breath. “His name is Marik. He’s another Millennium Item wielder, like me but without the guardian.” He gave Yami a small smile, but the Pharaoh didn’t return it, remembering far too easily how ineffective he’d been in that fight, “He holds the Millennium Rod. It lets him control people’s minds. His possessed slave caused the fire that nearly…” Yugi shuddered and Yami’s hand went on his shoulder.

‘I’m sorry, Yugi. I’ve brought so much trouble down on you.’

The hikari leant into the touch and let out a small, sad sigh. “It’s not your fault. You don’t seek those who want us dead. They seek us.”

“If I’d known how much trouble the Puzzle would cause, I would never have given it to you.” Solomon admitted, “But it’s yours now, and as long as you,” He looked at Yami, who stared back, “Promise to guard him until his death, I will not take it away.”

“I would never abandon Yugi.” Yami promised.

“Good.” Solomon nodded, “Now, this training you want?” He turned back to his Grandson, who looked up at him, “I might know someone who might be able to help. At least with your Shaman training.”

“You do? But I thought you didn’t have any training.”

“I don’t. And I don’t know if the contact number I have for her is still valid.” Solomon warned, “And even if it is, she might not have anyone available to send, not with the Shaman tournament coming up.”

“What is the Shaman tournament?” Tea asked, “You’ve mentioned it before.”

“And the Shaman that attacked said that was why he wanted Yami.” Yugi chipped in.

“I’m not sure of the exact details.” Solomon answered, “But every five hundred years a tournament is held to find the most powerful Shaman, the Shaman King. The winner of the tournament supposedly gains the ‘Great Spirit’ as his guardian ghost, and with it the power to do whatever they want.”

“Whatever they...” The implications weren’t lost on Yugi and Tea, the latter of whom had had enough of power crazed lunatics chasing her friend around. “But isn’t that dangerous?” Tea asked.

“Incredibly. The difference between victory and defeat is often a Shaman’s life, but the tournament has to be held, for every five hundred years a pair of comets pass the Earth, heralding the coming of a great catastrophe. It’s the duty of the Shaman King to stop it from happening and guide the world into a new age.”

“No.” Tea caught the look on Yugi’s face and glowered at her friend, “Even if you had the training, which you don’t, you have enough on your plate with all the Millennium Item wielders who keep coming after you, without inviting a whole new load of trouble.”

“Tea’s right, Yugi.” Solomon nodded, “Even with training you couldn’t hope to beat some of the Shaman entering the tournament. Not when they’ve trained their entire lives for this and you’ll have a month at best before it kicks off properly. You probably won’t even get tested for entry.”

“Tested?” Yugi asked curiously.

Solomon let out a heavy sigh, “I don’t know the full details, but my friend might. I’ll give her a call. But Yugi,” He gave his Grandson a sharp look, “Promise me you won’t go looking for other Shaman to fight.”

“I never go looking for fights.” Yugi protested, “They always start it.”

“Make sure it stays that way.” His grandfather replied, “Now if you’ll excuse me I have a phone call to make.”

With that Yugi’s grandpa left the room, leaving a rather confused pair of teens and a confounded spirit to work out what the hell had just happened.

Guilble Yugi Alert

Yami stretched and yawned as he slowly returned to consciousness, enjoying the comfort of Yugi’s bed as he...

The Pharaoh sat upright and looked around, his mind full of sleepy confusion. He had not been in control when they’d gone to sleep last night, nor had Yugi been wearing the Puzzle. He looked down at his chest, mentally poking Yugi as he did so, trying to work out why Yugi might have put it on during the night but not called him, only to have a horrifying shock as not only was he not wearing the Puzzle, but Yugi wasn’t in his soul room nor could he sense his light anywhere...

Yami bolted out of bed when he realised that the Puzzle wasn’t where Yugi normally left it either and searched the room, finally finding it underneath the bed minus the large piece with the eye of Anubis on.

This wasn’t possible. If Yugi wasn’t wearing the Puzzle he wasn’t supposed to be able to take control of Yugi’s body. If the Puzzle was broken... Yami shuddered as his memories informed him of exactly what he should be going through right now.

Eyes widening, the Pharaoh dove under the bed, searching frantically for the missing piece, frightened that Yugi had been trapped in the Puzzle somehow when the piece had fallen out and dragged into the Shadows in his place, moving onto the rest of the room when it became obvious that the piece wasn’t there.

By the time Solomon came up to find out what the noise was, Yami had turned the entire room upside down and was starting on the hallway outside Yugi’s room. He definitely remembered the Puzzle being whole when Yugi had gone to bed last night, he wouldn’t have been aware of what time Yugi had been up finishing his homework till otherwise, but something had to have happened during the night. Yami just wished he knew what.

“Yugi, you’ll be late for school.”

“Don’t care.” Yami said roughly, fear making him sharper with his Grandfather than he otherwise would be.

“What’s wrong?” Yugi’s grandfather asked, pausing in his reprimand long enough to realise that the one he was speaking to wasn’t his Grandson but the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle.

“A piece of the Puzzle! The eye piece!” Yami continued to scrabble about, desperate now as it became more and more obvious that the Puzzle piece wasn’t here. “It’s missing.”

It took a moment for the spirit’s words to sink in and then, despite his back problems Solomon was there helping him look. The panic in the teen’s voice told Solomon all he needed to know and when he combined it with what he’d seen the previous night he came to a conclusion he didn’t really like.

“I don’t think you’ll find it here.”

Terrified ruby eyes caught amethyst pools as the Pharaoh stared at Solomon.

“What do you mean? The Puzzle was whole last night.”

“There was a boy here last night, a friend of Yugi’s. I had to tell them off when they were still talking at two o’clock this morning. Tall, willowy, black hair, red eyes, pale skin.”

“Spectre.” Yami hissed, recognising the teen by description. After the Ghost type Trainer had nearly killed Yugi, Yami had had a vendetta against him and this, this was the final blow.