Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Do You Dream of Me? ❯ Control ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-gi-oh, we would find out what the heck is up with Shadi!

Oh, and I played around with a translator, and I think what Yami says for Master is Shukun-dono. Is the -dono supposed to be there? I'm still going to use Master, as it is more obvious to English-speakers, but this bit of info will be important much later on.

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Later that evening, Yugi sat at his desk with the Puzzle in his hands. What Yami had said… Yami viewed saving Yugi as just his duty? Something that was owed to his savior? Did Yami even…?

No. Yami cared about Yugi for real. He could sense it from Yami, curled up in his mind. But… it wasn't friendship. It was deep gratitude and admiration of something precious, a savior, a god, a jewel.

He put his head in his hands. How was he supposed to get Yami to see him as an equal? He wanted to be just Yugi to Yami. He wanted to play with him, and joke with him, and duel, and more… but he couldn't if Yami acted all reserved and old-retainer-like.

He sighed. But right now, he had more pressing matters to deal with. Shadi. He had two Millennium Items, and with Yami not being able to fight them… and he was going to come after them again, and maybe take the Puzzle. Take Yami.

Yugi shuddered. `I'll help Yami.' He swore to himself. `I won't let him go back to the dark and cold he's so scared of. Not even if all the Millennium Items try to take him away.'

`And what he said…'I must place on trial one more man who defiled the Valley of the Kings…' What did he mean?'

`I want this to be over soon. I can't stand this. I'm worried, and Yami's scared… for me, as much as himself. More for me. I don't deserve him.' Yugi hugged Yami tight.

His reverie was interrupted by a shout. "Yugi, this is terrible! Come look at the news!"

"Huh?" Yugi ran out of the room.

Kanekura was dead.

Sugoroku sighed. "It's depressing to think someone we just met is dead…"

Yugi nodded silently.

Sugoroku continued. "I'm worried… there was one more man involved in the excavation, Professor Yoshimori."

Yugi sat up, shocked. `One more man…'

"Is something wrong?" Sugoroku asked, puzzled.

"No, Ji-chan, I'm fine. What were you saying?" Yugi said, feigning unconcern.

Sugoroku shook himself awake. "Anyway, Professor Yoshimori would be the last person to believe in curses. But still, one of the people he worked with is dead! It must be hard for him. So, Yugi, I'm going to his lab at the university to cheer him up."

"Ji-chan… can I come too?" Yugi asked. He had a feeling he needed to go.

"Oh! Of course you can! I'm sure he'd like that."

As Yugi got ready, he thought about what he had heard. `The Valley of the Kings… that's what Shadi was talking about. Professor Yoshimori is an archeologist, like Kanekura! Oh, I hope he doesn't die too!' Yami was preparing for battle.

As Yugi and Sugoroku left the Game Shop, they ran into Jou and Anzu. They had heard the news, and had decided to come with them to visit the Professor.

"Anzu, Jou… I think it would be better if you didn't go." Yugi glanced at Ji-chan. "I… just get this feeling…"

`Huh? Is this something involving Yami?'

"We're all right, Yugi!" Anzu said cheerfully.

Jou nodded. "Professor Yoshimori showed us around the museum! We're worried about him just like you are. He seems like a good guy." `Is there really a curse?'

"Y…yeah, okay." Yugi shrugged. Jou and Anzu wanted to help out. He wouldn't be able to convince them not to without discussing Yami in front of Ji-chan. He didn't want to do that yet.

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Professor Yoshimori rested his head on his clasped hands. `Impossible… there's no such thing as a curse…'

Memories of the discovery filled his mind. Entering the tomb, seeing the treasure, the expression on Kanekura's face… Kanekura lying dead, when he'd been brought in to identify the body.

Suddenly, he heard a noise, he whirled around… but there was nothing there. "I'm hearing things…" He said to fill the silence. "A lot has happened today. I must be tired. Motou will be bringing his grandson soon… I've never needed a friend as much as I do today."

He didn't notice the figure that appeared behind him.

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"Here we are!" Sugoroku said when they got to the university.

"The lights aren't on…" Anzu remarked as they walked in.

When they were right outside the Professor's room, Sugoroku stopped them. "Let's try to smile and cheer him up, alright?"

"Let's not mention the museum." Anzu added.

They entered the room.

"Sorry we're late Professor…" Sugoroku trailed off. Something felt wrong.

"Thank you for coming!" Yoshimori said. He was smiling broadly, and his eyes looked… wrong. "Come in… come in… come in… come in…"

"Uh… hope we're not interrupting anything…" Jou said.

"I've been waiting for you! Hee hee hee… hee hee…"

Jou was getting freaked. He said in a fakely happy voice, "Professor, we brought something for you! You know… you showed us around the museum and all…"

"Moron!" Anzu muttered. "Ixnay on the museum!"

"Whup!" Jou covered his mouth.

"Oh yes, oh yes… the museum…"

"Sorry…" Jou said quietly.

"Moron!" Anzu whispered through clenched teeth.

"Some~body kill~lled him… Somebody killed Mr. Kanekura! Hee hee…"

Everyone looked at him, shocked.

"Something weird's going on here!" Jou said.

"Professor Yoshimori, what's wrong?" Sugoroku said, very concerned.

"There is nothing wrong… I was just waiting… Waiting for Yugi… Hee hee…"

`Oh no!' Yugi thought.

Professor Yoshimori came closer, hands outstretched. And now, now they could see the zombie-like stare, the zombie-like movements, as his hands wrapped around Jou's neck…

"Wha…" Jou gasped out.

"Jounouchi!" Yugi yelled.

Yoshimori spoke blankly. "I want to see the other Yugi…"

"Urg…" Was all Jou could say as Sugoroku and Anzu tried to tug the zombie Professor's hands away from him.

"Please excuse my puppet's rudeness." Yugi heard a voice from the corner say.

Yugi whirled around. `Shadi!' Yami had been trying to take over for some time, but Yugi refused to go to sleep. He had to help Yami! "Shadi! What did you do to Professor Yoshimori?!"

"If my theory is correct, this will bring him out…" Shadi muttered.

Yugi continued to try to free Jounouchi with the others.

"The Professor's really trying to kill Jou!" Anzu cried out.

"Professor Yoshimori! What's wrong?!" Sugoroku couldn't believe this.

Yugi glanced at Shadi. He was still watching, not caring about Jou.

"His strength is insane! I can't budge his arms!" Sugoroku gasped out.

"Jou!" Yugi cried. Yami had tried to break the spell on the Professor, but the Items had… Yami had hurt so much…

Jou was fading fast… finally, Anzu had an idea. She grabbed a globe, and bashed the Professor in the head with it. His hands released as he fell, and Jou managed to gulp in air. `Geez… I almost croaked…'

"You did it Anzu! You knocked him out!" Yugi yelled. Sugoroku's face was mixed triumph and worry. And for an instant, Shadi's face had shown something other than that blank self-righteousness.

As they clustered around Jou to make sure he was okay, the Professor suddenly rose to his feet and began to advance again.

"Oh no! The Professor's still the same!" Yugi cried out.

"He's a zombie!" Jou yelled.

As everyone tried to avoid the Professor, Shadi slipped behind Anzu without her noticing.

Sugoroku tried to get through to his old friend, but was knocked out. Jou came to a decision. "Hey! Ya old bookworm! Over here!" Jou ran out the door of the classroom, and the Professor followed.

"Jou!" Yugi yelled after him. He didn't know what to do. He hoped Yami recovered soon…

Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him. "Yugi…You have a good friend… he would save you by sacrificing himself…"

Yugi whirled around. `Shadi!'

"And she is a good friend as well…" Shadi held Anzu, who stood still, her eyes blank, like a doll.

`Anzu!' "What did you do to Anzu!?"

"I redesigned the room of her soul." Was… was there some regret in Shadi's eyes? There had been none before… "This girl is now a doll, who cannot speak or think. She is a puppet who cannot move without my will!"

Yugi stared in horror, openmouthed.

"Now, young man! Call him forth! The other Yugi!"

Yugi was paralyzed, staring at his oldest friend. He had to help her! But he didn't know magic… Yami was still paralyzed, curled up in a ball and shaking with remembered fear and pain, and Yugi couldn't wake him! And even if he did, what did Shadi want with him? Yami couldn't fight the Millennium Items Shadi had!

Yugi didn't know what to do…

Shadi just stood there, staring at him. Yugi trembled and backed away. Shadi smirked slightly, like everything was going according to plan.

"Listen well, Yugi… these words will be the final trigger… if I ordered this girl to die," Shadi said, gazing dispassionately at Anzu, "She would die!"

At that, Yugi cried out inside, with fear for his friends: Anzu who had been turned into a thing, her soul raped; Jou who had almost died and was still being pursued, maybe already caught; Ji-chan, who was unconscious on the floor; the Professor, used to kill at Shadi's command; Yami, tortured and caught in remembered agony.

He curled up in a ball at the onslaught of fear and helplessness and anger…

And felt strong arms wrap around him, cradle him, treasure him. -Are you alright, Master?-A kind voice in his mind. Still wearied, but ignoring it. Surpassing it. Because his precious Master needed him.

Outside, Yami showed none of the caring reassurance that bathed Yugi's soul. "Shadi!" He yelled, outraged. `How dare he involve innocents! How dare he touch those my Master cares for! I don't know what I can do to win, but I will not lose!"

Shadi smirked. Then his face turned serious. "I needed to see you again, other Yugi… now that you're here, the time has come to finish our battle… in a Shadow Game!"

After that dramatic, yet obvious pronouncement, Shadi continued. "The last time we met, I searched the room of you soul trying to determine your power… but you forced me out. This time, I will try your power in the real world!"

"I suppose I have no choice but to accept." Yami said dryly.

"Yes. If not, this girl will remain a doll forever."

`Mazaki-sama!'

-Anzu!-

"The game will begin in ten minutes on the roof. I will go ahead and make the preparations… Fortunately, all the tools I need are here in this Archeology Lab. Come when the clock strikes Eight! I'll be waiting on the roof."

--Good. Some time to recover.-

-Yami!-

--Master! Are you alright?-Yami held him desperately, begging the gods he had forgotten that Master was safe.

-He didn't do anything to me, but Anzu and Jou and Ji-chan and the Professor and you… are you okay, Yami?! You really hurt!-

--You felt that?!... I'm so sorry, Master. I tried to spare you that pain… I'm sorry.-Yami hung his head.

-It was much worse for you! I'm sorry, I tried, but I couldn't get through to you, I couldn't wake you up, and you were hurting… why did you wake up suddenly?-

--Nothing, nothing, would stop me from helping you if you felt that kind of distress. Nothing. I'm sorry. If I'd been stronger… you shouldn't have had to feel that in the first place. I'm so sorry, Master.-Yami prostrated himself.

Yugi held his arms out. -Please, come back up here, I miss holding you… I need you, Yami. Help me? Help my friends?-

Yami smiled, his joy restored. -Anything you wish, my Master. Anything.-He snuggled up to Yugi-dono again. His perfect sweet little Master felt so good in his arms… he would win this for him. He couldn't lose.

Anything for his precious perfect Master. Anything. Even if the Items tried to stop him… Master had freed him, hadn't he? Beaten the Items for him? And when they tried to paralyze him with fear and pain, Master stopped them, woke him from the nightmare. Master would keep him safe.

All Yami had to do was keep Master safe. And happy, so he would want to keep Yami around. And Yami would do a good job, and make his wonderful Master very happy, which would make Yami happy as well, and Yami would be wanted and safe and valued.

Maybe precious Master would even consider him his most precious thing?

Yami smiled and dreamt, and held his Master and reassured him, and prepared to fight for his god.

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The Monster World thing is gonna rock.

Strega: Yugi isn't that hurt by it, as this chapter shows. He realizes that Yami values him, he can after all feel everything that Yami feels, and poke around in his memories if he asks, because Yami is in Yugi's mind. It's just not the kind of relationship he wants.

Silvershadowfire: Hell yeah.

Probably just convenience (why chose Anzu to be puppet).