"Umm... excuse me," Tea asked one of the firemen. "What happened here?"
"You live here?"
"A friend of mine does," She could see him start to give her his full attention. "We usually drop by to pick him up on the way to school."
"There was an explosion just past five this morning," The fireman said quickly. "It took us a while to put out the electrical fire." He looked at the rubble and then back at Tea. "How many were living here?"
"My friend and his partner." Tea replied trying to contain her emotions. "His grandfather is staying in America with a friend."
"We found a body!" Someone deep in the debris yelled. "Correction, Two!
The three waited anxiously until the first was extracted from the rubble. Yami looked bad and it was clear he was struggling to breathe. Yugi looked worse. The heavy white bandages were torn revealing the cuts on his arms which were bleeding freely. But unlike Yami, Yugi appeared lifeless. Only the tiniest movement of his chest told otherwise.
"We'll get to school and let the teachers know," Joey whispered in Tea's ear. His face was pale but relieved that they were alive. "You know more about Yugi than we do. Help the doctors out and make sure they live!"
Tea could only nod in reply, her eyes fixed on their unconscious bodies. She followed the paramedic into the back of the ambulance with Yugi in it and quickly relayed all she knew about Yugi's medical history.
"Do you know anything about the other young man?"
Other than that he is a 5000 year old pharaohs and Yugi's lover? she asked sarcastically before saying "No. Yugi knows everything about Yami. I haven't known him as long as I have known Yugi." She shook her head when asked about the other teen's family. "Yugi said he had no family living."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How are they doing?" Joey asked Tea in the waiting room after school let out.
"Yugi is the worst hurt." Tea replied quietly. "They think he protected Yami from the explosion. They are suspicious about the long cuts along his forearms. They said they look self-inflicted." Tea gave Joey a half smile. "Yami woke up a little while ago. They took him for tests." She chuckled before adding "He refused to go anywhere without seeing Yugi first."
"Has he said what happened?" Tristan asked
"He said he was having a moment with Yugi and next thing he knew there was a lot of pain and then nothing." Tea replied. "They asked him about Yugi's cuts and he said that Yugi did attempt but he was trying to find out when it happened."
"Yug attempted suicide?" Joey's eyes looked curiously guarded. "He promised..." Shaking his head, he added "He has tried before when he was being bullied."
“Perhaps we should ask Yami about it when he returns,” Tea said softly looking down at her watch. “I better go. I have dance class soon.” She tapped Joey’s shoulder before dragging Tristan, who started protesting before seeing her pointed look, with her. “Your turn.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It wasn’t long until Yami returned to find Joey waiting for him. “I know what you are going to ask…” He waited until the nurse left and closed the door behind her before continuing on. “Yugi hasn’t broken his promise to you. I just couldn’t tell them the truth of what happened.”
“So what did happen then?” Joey asked taking a seat at Yami’s side. “Those cuts look too straight for an accident.”
“Do you remember back to the ceremonial dual and how Yugi was pulled in after I went through?” Joey nodded and indicated for Yami to continue. “Well…”
FLASHBACK
"Just like Heba and myself," Atemu reappeared and gestured to an open door behind Yami. "If you will follow me."
Yami helped Yugi up and they followed Atemu through the door to a room that was perfectly half dark and half-light. They stared around the room in amazement. On the light side stood the Creator of Light, Horakhty, while on the dark side Zorc the Dark One stood. Both stood watching the three, and waited.
“Before the dawn of time, the World of the Beasts has existed side by side with the human world,” Atemu said softly. “I’m sure Mana told you this already.”
“She did,” Yugi replied sensing Yami was unable to speak from shock. “But that doesn’t explain now.”
“Over time, the creators of light and dark discovered that they needed those who embody those powers to administer and protect the two worlds,” Atemu raised a hand to his heart and smiled. “While I was ruling in Egypt, Heba and I was one such pair.” He waved his hand and a series of memories played where Atemu and Heba fought creatures side by side. “My beloved Heba, my light half, protected the humans of Egypt while I protected and controlled the Egypt that existed in the Shadow Realm. We existed like this until the balance was disrupted by a flux of darkness.”
“I still don’t understand,” Yugi said, partially wondering if Yami was unable to speak due to Atemu’s existence.
“It is their wish for you two to become the ruler of Japan.” Atemu laughed at Yugi’s expression. “Not in the sense you are thinking. Yugi, as hikari, you would keep the shadows balanced and away from the human world. While Yami, as a yami,” Yugi momentarily looked confused at this point. “Will manage the Shadow Realm.”
“Hikari and yami…” Horakhty said softly. “Light and dark.”
“Order and chaos,” Zorc continued. “Combined to protect and serve the nature of this world. Do you understand?”
Yugi glanced at Yami curiously. Seeing understanding and desire shimmering in his eyes, he looked back to Zorc and nodded.
“Then it shall be done,” Horakhty and Zorc intoned.
Yugi and Yami both yelped as they were picked up and thrown back through the door they walked through.
END FLASHBACK
“That’s when we were thrown back through the spirit door and it shut behind us,” Yami said softly. Joey looked shocked. “We…”
“We?” Joey asked before noticing the faraway look on Yami’s face. He had seen this on Yugi’s face before whenever he spoke to Yami through their mind link.
Yami…
You’re awake Aibou. How are you feeling?
Tired. These bandages are heavy and the one on my head is covering my eyes. Yugi sounded frustrated. The doctors are in here talking about my condition. They keep saying I won’t likely be waking up any time soon. Yami smothered a laugh at the whine in Yugi’s voice. But I am awake. I just can’t open my eyes.
I’ll send Joey in to you. Yami pulled out of their conversation to look at Joey. “Yugi’s upset because the doctors are telling each other he won’t wake up any time soon but he is awake.” He widened his eyes and quickly asked Yugi. Can you move?
My fingers. Yugi replied. Joey can be psychic for once. Yami laughed at the hysterics his hikari had gotten himself into.
Yugi paused in his mental laughter as the doctors examined his throat. “I don’t think we will hear why he tried to kill himself until he starts writing again.” Yugi’s body went cold in shock. “His vocal cords are damaged beyond repair.”
YAMI! Yugi sent panic through the link causing Yami to almost fall out of his bed as he reached for some water.
What is it, little one? He asked attempting to calm him down. Joey is on his way there.
I won’t be able to speak anymore… Yami could feel him crying in his mind. They said my vocal cords are damaged.
‘I won’t hear my hikari’s voice again…’ Yami thought before responding to Yugi. I will just have to play translator. He attempted to lighten the situation with humor. He could tell his hikari wasn’t taking this well. Is Joey there yet?
Yugi felt someone brush his hand before touching his face. “Yug, I’m here. Yami said you were awake.” Yugi moved his fingers, tracing the letters for Joey’s name on the bed. “I’m glad. Let me get the doctors so they know you’re awake.”
He is Yami.
He needs a ring. Yugi sent Yami a bundle of confused emotions at this statement. I told him about us. He thought you had betrayed him by attempting to commit suicide again. I didn’t want him to think that so I told him everything about us. Nothing yet about that night since I can’t name Bakura or Ryou until he is protected.
Oh… Yugi waited until the doctors were done re-bandaging his head so he could open his eyes. His vision was hazed with red. Wait a sec, Yami.
A board was placed under his right hand with the words ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. All he had to do was point at what he wanted to respond with.
“Can you see clearly?” No
“Blurred?” No
“So a clear image… Wrong colours?” Yes
“Streaks?” No
“Like a fog then?” Yes
“Are you in pain?” No
“Good. The last thing we want is you in pain and not be able to ask for relief.” The doctor paused and then asked softly. “Do you remember why you tried to kill yourself?” Yugi managed his best confused look at the doctor. “You have straight cuts on both arms stretching from your wrist to the inside of your elbow. They are too neat for accidental cuts.” He patted the boy’s shoulder. “Perhaps it is best you don’t remember what drove you to that extreme.” He gave a nod to Joey before leaving the room.
“Yugi…” Joey began to say before watching Yugi shake his right wrist from side to side. A faint rattle grew louder until a golden bracelet appeared. “What the!”
Yugi traced his fingers on the board. It took Joey a while to understand what Yugi was trying to say. Take a ring.
“What?”
Take a ring. You know about Yami and I. This is to protect you against the shadows. They will seek you out now because you have knowledge on us.
Joey pulled one of the rings off the bracelet. “Do I just put it on?”
Hold it in your palm. Then throw it up and catch it again before putting it on. Best to do it in the sunlight.
Joey walked over to the window and did what Yugi said, nearly dropping it when the ring grew in size to an armband. He glanced over to Yugi, who nodded, before sliding the ring up his arm until it sat comfortably around his bicep. He returned and sat near Yugi once more. He watched in fascination as the bracelet on Yugi’s wrist faded from view once again.
No one but those with the knowledge will see the ring. It will become warm if I am in danger. It will guide you to where I am when that happens.
“I’m glad Yami told me,” Joey said resting a hand on Yugi’s shoulder. “But he didn’t tell me how you got those cuts.”
He couldn’t mention another yami by name until you had my ring. Otherwise that yami would be forced to seek you out and kill you.
“As long as you didn’t do it to yourself,” Joey said fingering the band with curiosity. “I don’t want to ever see you do that again.”
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