Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Coalescence ❯ Yami Secrets ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

18) Yami Secrets

Summary: Yugi handles questions about his after school excursion the day before; Seto is invited into Yami's soul room.

Note: Though Yugi's friends know about Yami at this point, they don't actually know his "name" (yeah, I know he doesn't really have one in the Japanese version, but what would the fun of that be? I think we all agree that "mou hitori no boku" or "mou hitori no Yugi" is too cumbersome.) Plus Yugi hasn't really talked to them very much on the subject so... well, I thought he should!




"Oh, Yugi-kun!" Anzu called brightly, catching her friend before he could go into their first period classroom. "Can I talk to you for a minute, Yugi?"

"Anzu... ohayo," Yugi greeted her, smiling. "What's up?"

She glanced down the hallway in either direction. Jounouchi and Honda were nowhere to be seen, nor was Otogi or Bakura. "Hmmmm, Yugi, I was just wondering... is there anything you want to tell me? You know, that maybe you don't want to tell the guys... yet?"

[Okay, just WHAT has she seen?] Yugi wondered. "Hmmm, Anzu, I can't think of a single thing!" /Yami... you there? Anzu's asking questions.../

//Mmmm?// The spirit sounded distracted. //Questions about what?//

"Oh, really?" Anzu replied, narrowing her eyes as she looked down at him. "Friends shouldn't keep secrets from friends, you know..."

//I see,// Yami murmured, amused. //Aibou, although I don't care what your friends know about me, Seto might not want our relationship to be public just yet. What are you going to tell her?//

/It's not like I'm keeping secrets about *me*.../ Aloud, Yugi replied nonchalantly, "I don't have any secrets, Anzu. You shouldn't be so suspicious." He spied a familiar blond head down the hall behind her. "Hey, Jounouchi-kun!"

Anzu frowned. [Okay, this isn't over yet... I'll just watch him some more...]

"Oi, Yugi!" Jounouchi crowed, joining them, as usual with Honda at his side. "What's up?"

"Not much," Yugi replied, and coughed as his big friend pounded him on the back in greeting. "Want to hang out after school today?"

"Sure, sure," Honda replied, "But are you sure you won't have any more papers to 'sign' today, hmmm?" He nudged Jounouchi and winked at Anzu.

"What?" Yugi frowned. [Oh, NO, don't tell me they saw me leaving in Kaiba's limo!]

"Yeah, that's right," Jounouchi took it up. "You left with Kaiba in his limo yesterday! Working on the 'project', eh?" He made an exaggerated wink at his diminutive friend.

[Not this again...] "What are you saying, Jounouchi-kun?"

"Me? I'm not sayin' nuttin'." Jounouchi yawned and scratched his mop of hair. "It's just totally weird that you and Kaiba seem to be friends or something."

Yugi could feel anger surging up until he felt his other half sending him calm reassurance. //Aibou, just blow it off. You know how he is... Why not tell him where you went?//

/Yeah?/

//Go ahead.//

"Well, if you really HAVE to know, Kaiba-kun got a call from someone at the Domino Museum about a new Egyptian exhibit. Yami-san wanted to see it, naturally."

"Oh, I read about that," Anzu murmured. [I was going to tell Yugi about it, in fact...]

"Yami?" Jounouchi asked, bewildered.

Yugi held up the Puzzle patiently. "The spirit of the Puzzle. I guess he talked Kaiba-kun into going to see the exhibit." He shrugged. "It was kinda cool. I guess Pegasus got his ideas for the Duel Monster game from ancient Egyptian stone tablets."

"Whoa, that's awesome!" Anzu exclaimed. "We'll all have to go see it. Maybe this weekend?"

"Sure," Honda replied. "So, Yugi, the spirit's got a name? That's cool. I didn't realize it was so... independent."

Yugi realized he'd never really talked to his friends much about Yami, though since the theft of the Puzzle by a strangely controlled Bandit Keith, he'd told them of the presence in his Puzzle. "He, not it. Yeah, he's very awesome. When we duel, we're working together, though he's mostly in control. But outside of dueling, I can still talk to him." He glanced up at his friends. "Don't think that's too weird, do you?"

Jounouchi and Honda were clearly surprised, but they were pretty accepting as well. "Nah, it's okay. So, like it's this guy inside your head or something?" Jounouchi asked. "There really are two Yugis? Like when the evil Bakura put us all in cards and battled your other self, eh? He's around all the time?"

Yugi smiled. "Not all the time. He retreats to give me privacy, and vice versa. He's not very demanding and he's nothing like Bakura's spirit. I trust him now and we're good friends."

"Wow, that's awesome," Honda muttered. "You call him Yami, though? That means 'dark'."

"Yeah, well, in a way he's my darker side, but not really," Yugi tried to explain. "I just got used to calling him that. He's not all that dark. He's just more of a risk-taker than I am, I guess."

Just then the bell signaling that first period would be starting in two minutes. "Well, we'd best get to our seats," Yugi said quickly, glad that the question-answer session was over. He was relieved the discussion had settled on Yami and not on Kaiba and himself. He ducked into the classroom, his friends following.

As he'd expected, Seto Kaiba was already in his seat, reading a book. "Ohayo, Kaiba-kun," he said softly as he reached the boy's seat. His heart rate had picked up and he felt a subtle tingling. He couldn't help but wonder if it came from Yami.

Seto glanced up, though he'd already been aware of his classmate's approach, had seen him enter the room, in fact. He managed a pleasant smile. "Ohayo, Yugi," he murmured, inclining his head.

Yugi smiled back, relaxing a little. [Maybe this won't be so hard after all... he's so nice to me now...] As their eyes met briefly, Yugi wondered whether Kaiba looked in his eyes, hoping to see a bit of Yami there. [It must be hard for him...]

Seto blinked, then returned his attention to his book, though his heart rate, too, had picked up at the other's nearness. [Yami-chan... are you there, watching?]

/Yami?/ Yugi inquired as he went to his own seat.

//Aibou...// Yami had indeed seen the subtle, wistful hopefulness in his lover's eyes. //Thank you for greeting him.//

/He's my friend now./

//Arigato,// came back the soft reply. Then Yugi felt Yami's awareness recede as it normally did at school.

[I wonder what he does all day?] Yugi thought idly as he turned his attention to the teacher.





"I have so much to talk to you about, Seto." The words went around and around in Seto Kaiba's mind all through the day. When school was over, he looked for Yugi, but barely caught a glimpse of him leaving in the midst of his group of friends. [So, this is how it is...]

Seto sighed and went home in his limo. Mokuba chatted at him during the limo ride and all through supper. Finally, around 6 pm, Seto escaped to his office, where he set into his homework, clearing that quickly, then attended to the business of his company.

His personal phone rang at 8 pm. "Kaiba," he murmured distractedly, signing the last document on his desk with a sigh.

"Konban wa, Seto-kun," came the gentle voice of Yugi Mutou. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I know it's getting late."

"Not at all, Yugi, I was just finishing the last bit of business of the day, in fact I'm done," Seto replied, straightening his papers. "You called at a good time. What's on your mind?"

"Um, Yami-san wants to talk to us."

Seto was sure he hadn't heard that right. "Yugi, did you say... 'us'?"

"Yeah... I know, I don't understand it either. That's just what he said. Apparently he's figured out a way to talk to us at the same time. I'm guessing it has to do with our soul room. Er, can you come over?"

[Soul room!] Seto thought, stunned. Then he wanted to laugh, though mostly at himself. His logical, scientific mind didn't handle such concepts as "soul room" easily. [This magic stuff is real! I have to keep that in mind,] he told himself, then replied, "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

"Oh, great!" Yugi responded cheerfully. "Oh, and he says to bring the four new cards and your dueling deck."

"We're going to duel?" Seto asked, startled.

"Um, no, I don't think so. Heh, I bet you always have your deck with you, right?"

"As do you," Seto retorted good-naturedly. "Well, this should be interesting. I'll see you soon, Yugi."

Yugi said good-bye and hung up, feeling happy for some reason.





Upon entering the Turtle Game Shop, the first thing that Seto Kaiba was faced with was Yugi's grandfather. "Konban wa, Mutou-san," he greeted the old man politely, bowing a little more than was usual for him.

"I'm not selling you any cards, Kaiba-san," Sugoroku Mutou stated evenly in a frosty tone of voice.

"I'm not seeking to buy any, sir," Seto replied. He'd expected this sort of treatment. [Someone else to win over... and a hard sell it'll be at that...] "Yugi is expecting me."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, sir."

Fortunately, Yugi burst into the shop just then. "Kaiba-kun!" he called, waving. Then he stopped in his tracks, realizing it was the first time his grandfather had faced Seto Kaiba since their unfortunate duel in which Seto had torn up his grandpa's Blue Eyes White Dragon. "Jii-chan! Um, if it's all right, I asked Kaiba-kun to come over. Is it all right if he comes up to my room? I mean, we're friends now, no hard feelings. Right, Kaiba-kun?"

"Right, Yugi." Seto held up his card deck. "We're just going to chat about cards, is all."

The old man narrowed his eyes at the tall billionaire, thinking blackly that there was no way this boy was going to be friends with his Yugi.

"Jii-chan!" Yugi exclaimed, grabbing his grandfather by the shoulders. "Kaiba is my friend, Jii-chan. Please? Really, he's changed a lot. He's, um, not so bad! Jii-chan?"

"Yugi, if it's too much trouble," Seto said, hastily, "perhaps we should do this at my house. I don't want to cause problems between you and your grandfather."

"It's okay," Yugi replied, smiling sunnily. "Jii-chan?"

Sugoroku Mutou was looking at the tall boy curiously. "Hmmm... well, Yugi, you do have a big heart indeed. If you insist on making friends with Kaiba-san, then I'll have to accept it." But he still shot a warning glare at Seto.

"Thank you, Jii-chan!" Yugi cheered, hugging his grandfather. Then he grabbed Seto by the sleeve. "Come on, Kaiba-kun!"

Once they'd escaped upstairs, Yugi was quick to attempt to make his new friend more comfortable. "Sorry about my grandpa, Seto-kun," he said, hastily grabbing a few items strewn around which he'd neglected to pick up before. "Um, sorry about the mess... and sorry to drag you over here tonight..."

Seto moved some books off the bed and sat down. "You can stop saying 'sorry', Yugi. It's all right. I was glad to come."

Yugi glanced over, seeing that his tall classmate had found a place to perch. "Right," he sighed, standing in the middle of the room, rubbing his hands on his thighs. "Um, if you excuse me, I'll tell Yami-san you're here."

"Wait, Yugi," Seto murmured quietly. "He's not listening?"

Yugi shook his head nervously. It was weird, having Kaiba in his bedroom like this. Not like when the other guys came over to play games or just chat. "He's... busy, I guess."

"Yugi," Seto began again, keeping his voice calm, "I wanted to thank you for calling me last night. It was good to talk to you like that." He smiled, hoping to help the other boy relax.

"Oh," Yugi said, then smiled, too. "You're welcome. I... liked it, too." He ducked his head abruptly. "This is a little embarrassing..."

"No need to be," Seto said smoothly. "You know, we both have something very powerful in common, Yugi. We both have deep feelings for Yami. And I think we can't help but care a little for each other... because he cares for us. At least I hope it's like that."

Yugi managed to look up; the gentle warmth in the taller boy's eyes put him at ease and he relaxed finally. "I think so, too, Seto-kun. He's very special... and so are you."

"I am?" Seto murmured, feeling a flush of pleasure at the words.

"Oh, yes," Yugi replied, smiling more easily. "You were willing to change in order to be closer to Yami-san... and me. You're a very strong person, Seto-kun, but I think that a truly strong person is one who is able to gracefully admit their mistakes and move forward, not letting their pride keep them from accepting others into their lives because of what's in the past. We can't do the past over, but we can work to make a better future... don't you think, Seto-kun?"

[A better future... Damn, I've been so isolated, so focused on myself and winning,] Seto mused, stunned at Yugi's mature insight. [He puts me to shame... it's I who have been childish, I suppose. Wanting to win at all costs... but he's showing me a broader game. And I so want to play it now...] "Yes, I think so, too, Yugi," he replied, sighing. "Thank you for giving me a chance. And I hope that someday I may win a chance to improve things with your grandfather... and your friends."

"That would be great, Seto-kun!" Yugi declared, his eyes shining. "Well, Yami-san's waiting..." [And this is getting embarrassing again... although I wish I could just give the big lug the hug he needs... eh, I'll let Yami take care of that!]

He bowed his head, then, placing his hand on the Puzzle. Seto recognized the gesture with a bit of internal excitement. [He's going to transform...]

Yami looked up and smiled at him, extending his hand. "Seto..."

Seto reached and threaded his fingers into those of his koibito. "Yami-chan..."

/Oooh, he called you 'Yami-chan'!/ Yugi teased.

//Aibou... Yugi-chan...// Yami sent back fondly.

"Let me explain for both of you," Yami began, squeezing Seto's hand gently. "I need to talk to both of you at the same time, so we need to get Seto into my soul room. This will be possible because of the rudimentary link we've already discovered between us, and because of the power of the Millennium Puzzle."

"What is this... soul room?" Seto asked, frowning a little.

"In Yugi's mind are two chambers, for in fact, two consciousnesses, not one, dwell within," Yami explained. "Yugi's 'soul room', as we call it, is a simple room, but mine is represented by a complex series of chambers, something like a labyrinth, which I've come to understand represents the complexity of my mind... and some rather powerful mental defenses that have the memory of my previous life locked away. Within this labyrinth also dwell spirits of many of my favorite Duel Monster cards which I've learned represent aspects of myself or powers that I have through the magic of the Millennium Puzzle. I'm very much still learning about those powers, Seto."

"Your Duel Monster cards!" Seto was shocked. "So you see these spirits in your mind, you mean? Like Dark Magician?"

"Indeed, and he is my strongest guardian," Yami related calmly. "I have spent this entire day consulting with him and others until I discovered what I believe is a method for allowing another - not Yugi, to whom I can easily grant access - to enter my soul room."

/Tell him about Shadi,/ Yugi prompted.

//Yes... that was how we discovered this was possible...// "Seto, before leaving Duelist Kingdom, Yugi encountered someone named Shadi who is another owner of a Millennium Item - the Millennium Key which is in the shape of an ankh. Shadi used this Key to unlock Yugi's mind and enter my soul room. I believe I can reproduce that effect through the magic of the Puzzle."

Seto shook his head. "Yami, this is all a bit much... but I know your magic is real. I trust you. So... what must I do?"

Yami smiled reassuringly, again squeezing his fingers. "My beloved Seto... with your magnificent scientific mind, it is well that you can embrace my magic so willingly. Thank you! You needn't do more than lie down on the bed and relax. Do not try to fight what happens, if you can. But I know you can do this."

Sighing, Seto did as he was told, but was surprised when Yami got on the bed as well, but to sit with his back against the headboard, gesturing for Seto to put his head in his lap. "I have to touch you for this," Yami explained with a bit of a smirk as he laid his hand against his lover's forehead, then slid his fingers into the other's thick brown bangs.

Seto claimed Yami's free hand, cradling it as he relaxed against him and closed his eyes. "I trust you," he whispered.

/Wow,/ Yugi couldn't help but comment softly.


tbc