Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Lullaby ❯ Inside This Ancient Heart ( Chapter 2 )

AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Here's chapter two!

rox-the-chaotic-one: Thanks! Is this soon enough?

Dagger5: Wow, one of my favorite authors is putting me on their favorite author's list! I feel all special now. Thanks a ton!!!!

Senshichan14: Thanks for the review. Be nice to Yugi, I'm putting him through enough, don't you think?

DarkChao1663: Yes, yes I am...here's the continuation! (^.~) Thanks!

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Yugi continued along the path until he came to a fork in the road. Now what? He wondered as he looked down the two paths. The right one had trees growing over it. The left, the sun beat down. "Yami? What do I do? I'm so cold." Shivering he chose the sunny path, thinking it would warm him up.

He watched as a butterfly flew around him and landed on his nose. His wide eyes crossed as he looked at it. Suddenly it spoke, "Ya know Yug. You really are a pathetic weakling at times. I bet even I could beat you up."

"I don't like fighting, I don't see much purpose in it."

"Aw, come on Yug, ya know I'm jus' playin' with ya."

"Jounouchi?"

"Who'd ya think I was? Pegasus?"

"No, I thought you were a butterfly."

"Me? A butterfly! Ya gotta be kidding. Please say your kidding."

"Um, I'm kidding?" Yugi looked around, still with the butterfly on his nose. "Joey, if you're not the butterfly, do you mind telling me where you are?"

"Sure thing. I'm right here. Behind ya!" He tapped Yugi's shoulder, causing the smaller boy to jump.

"Jou? You don't happen to have some water on you? I thought that the sunny road would be better, but I'm so hot now. I'm dizzy."

"Yeah Yug, you really aren't looking so good. You should sit down. Stop fighting for a bit."

"But Yami needs me. He said he wouldn't leave me...I'm not leaving him either!"

"Yami can wait Yugi. You don't need to worry about anyone but you now."

"Kaiba? I thought you were Jou."

"That pathetic mutt was giving you bad advice. It's my turn now. You shouldn't bother caring about anyone else. They don't really care about you..."

"You're wrong Kaiba! It's a lie and you know it."

"You don't." Kaiba sneered.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm you."

"Huh?"

"I am you. I am a part of your mind. I wouldn't have said what I did if you weren't thinking it yourself."

The tears started flowing from Yugi's eyes again. "No. I know you are wrong. Kaiba, Yami said he wouldn't leave me. He is my other half."

"Believe what you will." Kaiba turned on his heels, his trench coat billowing out behind him as he walked away.

*********

"KAIBA...back here...lying...you're lying. NO!"

In a flash of light, Yami was next to Yugi. The boy was sweating, and seemed a little cooler to the touch, but he was obviously in another nightmare.

Yami wiped the sweat from Yugi's forehead, unwrapping some of the blankets before taking him into his arms.

"Yami...said...he wouldn't...please...help."

"Shhh, Aibou. I'm here. Where are you? I want to help."

Yugi snuggled deeper into Yami's chest as he wept. "Safe here..."

*Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep. And still so many things I want to say.*

"Yami...so close...where?"

Yami swept the sweat and tears from the teenagers face. *Rest now. I'm here Aibou. I'm with you, wherever you are.*

Yugi mumbled something ending in "Thanks" and, clutching Yami's shirt, fell back into his fitful sleep.

*********

"Yami? I hear you. I know. Thanks."

He walked over a hill and saw a blinding blue light. Shading his eyes, he noticed that it wasn't a blue light, it was the sun reflecting on a shimmering ocean. He walked to the beach, and picked up a light pink clamshell. So now I?

"Young Master, you are far from where you should be. Let me help you."

Yugi looked up at the voice. "Black Magician? What are you doing here? Never mind, if Jou, Kaiba and Pegasus can be here, I suppose you can too."

"You need a boat, Young Master. Your journey hasn't ended."

The teen's wide eyes looked at the purple-robed magician floating above him. He shrugged. "There's no wood here. What do I build the boat with?"

The Black Magician took out his staff and pointed it at the water. Yugi covered his eyes again as a boat appeared before him. He smiled up at the duel monster. "Thanks."

"You are never without friends, Young Master. Your deck will always be loyal to you. We are your heart, and we are here for you. To protect, serve, and comfort. Young Master, you are kind, and will always be repaid in kindness."

Yugi smiled, and nodded, understanding. He continued to hold the shell in his hand. It disappeared suddenly as he got into the boat.

*********

Yami went back into the corridor between the soul rooms. Yugi needed him, and he was not going to let him down. Walking into the hikari's side of the puzzle, Yami stepped over some old toys on the ground. *You should tidy up in here every once in awhile.* He chastised lightly, smiling as he came to the bedside. He reached down to the amethyst-eyed boy and touched his cheek. As he reached it, his other half disappeared, and a small pink clamshell was on his pillow.

*YUGI!* He cried through the link and aloud. He left the puzzle to return to his hikari's side.

Yugi was lying on the bed, his breathing soft and regular. Aibou, what is going on? Where are you? He reached through their mind link, his light was still there. Wherever "there" was, but he couldn't communicate with him at all.

"Yami...coming...sign...coming...other me."

*Oh, Aibou. You'll be all right...I promise. I'm still here. Remember all the songs you sang for me? When we went sailing on an emerald bay?*

********

The boat rocked slightly, and Yugi blinked. The water...it changed! The deep sapphire color had been replaced by an emerald green. A cold breeze swept by him, and he shivered against it.

If I had known, I would have brought a coat. Yugi complained. His light jacket from his uniform wasn't keeping the chill out at all. He slumped lower into the boat, hoping the sides would keep the wind from reaching him, even if only a little.

He reached down to his chest, where the puzzle usually lay. "Yami, I need you. I miss you. Where are you? Other me? Please help me."

Anzu sat next to him. "I love him you know."

"You...what?"

"The first time I heard his voice...I knew. He was brave and strong. Much stronger than you."

"As people keep pointing out..."

"Yugi, don't you get it? You are perfect. But you're not Yami. Yami is strong, handsome, and has an air about him that you simply could never pull off. You are cute...everyone's little brother."

"Gee, thanks." Yugi lowered his eyes.

"It's not a bad thing. It's just that...well...like right now for instance. You keep crying out for Yami to come save you...to help you. And he will, as soon as he can. We both know it. That's what friends do, they help one another. And I'm going to help you, Yugi. We're going to get out of here. Together."

"No offence, Anzu, but you have it backwards."

"What?"

"I don't need the help right now. I'm scared, yes, but I'm scared because I can hear Yami. He needs me, just as much as I need him. I'm not giving up until I find him."

"All right Yugi, if you say so," She shrugged, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

*Yami?* "YAMI! Did you hear that? I'm coming to find you!!!"

********

Yami's eyes shot open. Yugi was tossing and turning again, and his cheeks were flushed. He didn't need to touch him to know that his temperature was rising again. He placed another cool cloth on Yugi's head, and drew the boy into his lap.

Brushing wet hair from his face, he rocked the boy gently. *And like a boat out on the ocean, I'm rocking you to sleep. The water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart. You'll always be apart of me.*

*********

Curling up into the bottom of the boat, Yugi cried softly. "Yami..."

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Mimiheart: Just thought I'd share that for some reason my spell check wants to change Anzu to nazi. O.o Is that saying something, or what? (Sorry Anzu fans...) I'll hopefully put up the next chapter (final chapter?) in the next few days. Please RR.