This was inspired by a really weird dream I had on my birthday. I’m not even sure about all the chaos that went on in my head. I’m not responsible for the ensuing insanity, my subconscious is. My subconscious doesn’t own Yugioh.

#-#-#-#-#

“Yugi!” Surogoku Motou called up the stairs of the small shop, hoping his grandson would be down sooner than later. He shook his head. “Teenagers, if I didn’t know better I’d swear they were made for the sole purpose of sleeping and eating.” Of course, he wasn’t all that annoyed by Yugi sleeping in. After all, the kid did work hard and help out with the shop, on top of keeping up with school, friends, and being a world champion duellist.

Things were certainly never boring around the little shop; that was for sure.

One moment he’s sending his grandson off to compete in tournament finals, the next thing he knows Yugi shows up at the door along with a near clone of himself. That was the morning that Surogoku had sworn off coffee.

Come to think of it, he never had got a full explanation about how the other teen had come to know Yugi, much less why the two looked so strikingly similar. Still, Yami, as the teen called himself, was polite and willing helped out with errands and such, even if he seemed a little dated at times. The fact that the other couldn’t understand the concept of a telephone was a fine example.

Still, for all the other’s eccentricities he looked like he was a good influence on Yugi, and, moreover, a good friend. He didn’t mind sharing the little shop so much anyway. Sometimes it was lonely with only two people living in the place, a third made it feel so much more like a home, even if that third was a little bit weird. He ha even come to accept the second teen as family, it almost seemed right to have him around.

It seemed that Yugi and Yami complimented each other, like two sides of a coin. Yugi was very easy going and cheerful while Yami seemed to be more reserved. Still, both shared some of the more important things, loyalty, friendship and a willingness to help.

“I’m coming Grandpa!” was heard from upstairs along with more than a few bangs as Yugi finally emerged from his room, dressed for the day, still rubbing the last remnants of sleep from his eyes. His hair was still messy and in need of brushing, some of the crimson strands mixing with the blonde of the teen’s bangs to create an interesting shade of orange.

He padded down the stairs slowly, stocking feet making barely any noise on the carpet. Giving one final yawn he reached the landing and his grandfather who was currently sweeping the floor of the shop with an old broom, as he was apt to do in the morning.

They greeted each other cheerily as Yugi stumbled towards the kitchen; slightly more awake than he had been moments before. “Where’s Yami?” he asked groggily as he rummaged through the fridge, his voice just loud enough for the old man to hear. “I didn’t see him when I got up.” He finished, pouring himself a glass of milk, referring to the fact that the two boys shared the same room.

“It seems that Yami likes to get up with the sun.” Surogoku laughed, putting away the broom and joining Yugi in the kitchen. “He volunteered to go and do the shopping while you slept.”

“That was awfully nice of Yami.” Yugi’s face fell and he laughed nervously. “It was my turn to get the groceries, wasn’t it?” he asked a bit sheepishly, finally remembering the reason why he felt he’d slept in a little too long today, even though it was a weekend.

“Yes it was, but since Yami’s doing that for me I suppose you can do something else.” Surogoku smiled, as if he’d been spending the time before Yugi had woken up in order to think of such a chore as to even the workload between the two teens. “You know, the rooms upstairs are in need of a good cleaning.” He suggested, implying quite clearly what he was expecting Yugi to do.

“I’ll start that right after breakfast.” Yugi smiled. Out of all the things he could’ve been tasked with, cleaning was not one of the harder ones. Even though he kept telling Yami that he didn’t owe them anything for letting him live here the former spirit still felt guilty. And when Yami felt guilty he generally tended to do something to try to absolve that guilt. At first it had been cooking, but, needless to say, that hadn’t turned out well. The former pharaoh had since taken up compulsive cleaning as his preferred method of guilt relief.

Half an hour and three pieces of toast later Yugi stood in the hallway of the floor above the game shop, garbage can and dust rags in hand. He didn’t really know which room to start with, but that really didn’t matter as long as he got started. After all, the sooner he began the sooner he could phone up Jounouichi and the others to make the most of the weekend.

Striding confidently towards the first room in the hall Yugi decided to work his way towards his shared bedroom, which, due to Yami, would likely be the cleanest of all and a good way to finish up. His violet eyes narrowed as he concentrated, wanting to do his best job now so that he wouldn’t have to come back later.

#-#-#-#-#

With a sigh Yugi made back to his own room, well, technically the room he also shared with Yami. But the former spirit being as he was, tried to keep it as much of ‘Yugi’s room’ as possible. And, aside from the second bed he was pretty successful in that venture. A sigh once again ushered from Yugi’s lips.

Some days Yami really was utterly impossible to deal with. He was always trying to do something for him or Surogoku, obviously because he felt guilty. He could tell Yami until he was blue in the face that all he had to do was enjoy himself; that he didn’t owe anyone for the fact that he was alive and still the former pharaoh would ignore him.

It was times like those that Yami reminded his more modern counterpart of Kaiba, said spirit’s rival. The both of them were so stubborn once they got an idea into their heads it was almost unreal. Thankfully, Yami wasn’t like that most of the time.

Looking around the room, Yugi could see that it wasn’t going take long at all to clean this room and then be done with everything for the day. Just some scattered clothes that needed to be picked up and some games that had to be put in their place, maybe vacuum the carpet quickly and his grandfather’s assignment would be complete.

Yugi made quick work of the games, putting them in their boxes or where they belonged on a particular shelf or in a drawer. The clothes too were easily dealt with as he carried them down to the laundry room and sorted them into their respective buckets so that they could be washed later, ironically most likely by Yami on a cleaning binge. It really amazed Yugi how Yami could pick up one modern concept so easily and yet have so much trouble with another similar issue.

For instance, teaching an inquisitive Yami how to operate a washing machine and dryer had been relatively painless. The spirit had taken a while to grasp the fact that he didn’t have to supervise the machines but other than that he had got the hang of operating them after only a few tires. The blender however had proved to be rather...messy. Yugi shuddered at the memory.

Yami had apologised profusely for making such a mess of the kitchen, even after the two of them had cleaned everything up. But both had agreed that he should leave working the blender to someone else. Yami had loosed up a bit after that incident, which had been a relief for everyone concerned. He had relegated himself to only doing things when they needed to be done; not when people thought it would be nice they were done. As well, he only did what was in his capacity to do.

Of course, Yugi reflected, remembering that Yami now had a small scar that ran from the top of his palm along the side of his thumb and down to his wrist, it had taken his hand almost being shredded by said blender to lean that lesson. Yami was just lucky that he’d grabbed his arm as soon as the teen realised what the former spirit was trying to do.

Common sense would dictate that one would not try to stop a blender from the inside, but then again, Yami was just a little out of touch with the times.

He was just glad Yami hadn’t needed stitches after that.

Finally he made his way back to his bedroom and plugged in the vacuum cleaner. With a loud, mechanical roar it came to life and began sucking the dust out of the carpet. Being as through as he could Yugi moved chairs and vacuumed under desks and furniture. It was when he was vacuuming under Yami’s bed that he accidentally hit one of the legs as he made a pass.

Falling from underneath the pillow onto the floor in front of Yugi’s feet was a small, nondescript black book. It was a hardcover and at first he thought it was a library book that Yami might have been reading then fallen asleep with. He turned off the cleaner and picked it up from the floor.

Turning it in his hands he observed that looked to be in too good a state of repair to be a library book. Besides, even looking on the spine there was no title. It must have been one of the many books that his grandfather kept Yugi decided. Many of them didn’t have any labels on them either.

Just to see what it was that Yami had been reading he carefully opened the book to the first page, making sure to be as gentle as he could with it. He knew many of the books in his grandfather’s collection were very old and had to be cared for so that they’d remain in good condition for many years to come.

At first he was surprised, the pages were filled with neat handwriting and not printed characters as he had initially expected. The paper too was a crisp white, not yellowed by years on a shelf as he had expected it to be. Still, there were also many hand-written manuscripts among the printed books, Yugi surmised that this was likely one of them. It made sense with Yami’s past, or lack thereof, that he might like to read his grandfather’s archaeological notes.

Yugi concentrated on the words so carefully penned, and began reading quietly to himself.

#-#-#

June 4

The weather’s pleasantly warm outside, but I still find it a bit chilly. Hopefully I’ll get used to this soon though, or I fear I’ll freeze when winter comes. Still, I like it here everyone’s so cheerful and friendly, more over they’re tolerant of my utter ignorance.

It really is frustrating; to think of how much there is that I don’t know, so much that I don’t even know exists. I feel so small in a world where building soar towards the sky in every direction and great mechanical birds soar through skies once thought for birds alone.

On the bright side I can also think of the things I’ve learned. Maybe my accomplishments aren’t very important in view of a larger picture, but to me they are a big deal, as the expression goes these days.

Though I don’t think I’ll try to learn the intricacies of the blender any time in the near future. It looks so odd holding my cards in a duel and seeing a scar wind it’s way around my hand as a rather painful reminder that I shouldn’t try to teach myself things without Yugi’s supervision.

#-#-#

With a squeak Yugi quickly slammed the covers of the book together, blushing profusely. This was no ordinary book; it was Yami’s diary! He felt so guilty for reading it he hurriedly put it back under the pillow it had fallen out from under. Still, he hadn’t known what it was when he’d begun had he? He reasoned in his head, quickly moving to put away all the cleaning supplies.

“Yugi?” A familiar voice asked from the doorway, “Do you need any help?”

Slowly the short teen turned to see Yami, leaning casually against the doorframe. He couldn’t help but blush, wondering how much the other had seen. “When did you get back?” he asked politely.

“Oh, just now. I saw you dragging the vacuum and I figured you might need some help. Are you all right, you look a little flushed?” he added, stepping into the room.

Yugi visibly sighed in relief. “I’m fine, it’s just hot work that’s all.” He replied as Yami picked up the last of the things he’d carried into this room and he left for the closet so that he could put the stuff away. The spirit must’ve just come back after he put the diary back.

At least that was what he’d hoped. Yugi hated to think of how the other would view walking in on his closest friend reading his diary. That little scare was almost enough to make Yugi to vow never to clean again. However, he didn’t think that that would go over very will with Surogoku.

“Yugi?” he heard again from behind him and, in his already surprised state, almost jumped a foot off the floor.

“Yes Yami?” he replied, trying not to sound as nervous as he felt at the current moment.

“I ran into Jounouichi while I was getting groceries, apparently Shizuka’s coming for a short visit today and he invited us along, do you want to go?”

I mentally breathe a sigh of relief. “Sure I’ll come.” I reply, taking the broom from Yami and putting it away beside the vacuum before I close the closet door with a small click. I really need to calm down before I have a heart attack. If Yami had seen something he didn’t like he would’ve asked me what I was doing, right?

#-#-#-#-#

Apparently Jou had pulled out all the stops for his sister’s visit. Then again, knowing him, that really doesn’t surprise me at all. Even after being separated when they were really little kids there’s still a bond between them that is practically unbreakable, in my mind at least. Anyone who knows Jounouichi knows how deeply he cares for his sister, how he wants to look after her and what he’s gone through in order to do so. And anyone who’s seen the way Shizuka looks at her big brother would know that the feeling is mutual.

Anyway, it turns out, according to Yami, as he explained on the way over to the fast-food restaurant we were going to meet at, that Shizuka had come to spend the entire day here in Domino. She and Jou had spent the day together doing what ever she had wanted and after that they’d decided to get everyone together for lunch before she had to leave again. What amazed everyone most I think, was that Jou said it was his treat, especially considering the appetites of some of our friends.

Honestly, I’m kind of envious of Jou and Shizuka. He’s always had someone really close to look after and who cared about him. Being an only child I’ve always been kind of lonely. Of course, Yami’s like a brother to me but I know that we’ll never have that same kind of sibling relationship that Jou and Shizuka have.

I guess in a way though, I don’t need to feel bad about it. I may not have any real sisters or bothers but I have all my friends. We’re all like one big, happy, and at the moment, rather hungry, teenage family.

As Anzu walks in the door I can’t help but smile, now everyone’s here, the pizzas are about to reach the table, and all is well in the world. She takes a seat next to me, and I second that thought as she smiles back, greeting everyone cheerfully.

Yes, despite this morning, I think today is going to turn out to be a very good day.

#-#-#-#-#

Yugi’s been rather quiet this morning, I hope nothing’s wrong. I know I startled him this morning but I didn’t think that would be anything to get mad at. All he was doing was cleaning when I got home, I don’t know why my interrupting that would have him so, well, jumpy.

It seems that every time I’ve tried to talk to him today he looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. What could be on his mind I wonder?

I do notice that he’s brightened up since we arrived at the small restaurant Jou and Shizuka were waiting for us at. Of course, with Jou I’m sure happiness is contagious. As would be evidenced by the big grins on everyone else’s faces. Yes, it is good to be together like this every once and a while. Just like a family, mind you a some-what dysfunctional one. Which would explain why Jou is sitting between Otogi and Shizuka.

The small bell above the door rings and Anzu walks in, the last of us to arrive. She sits down beside Yugi, and I don’t think anyone could miss the smile she gives him before she greets everyone else with her trademark enthusiasm. Immediately Yugi brightens and it seems whatever black cloud was hanging over his head is gone. To me that is a great relief.

I do tend to worry when Yugi seems out of it, but now that I can see it’s passed I know it was not that big of an issue and I need not vex too much over it. Like Yugi says, I might as well enjoy it while I’m here.

The teen behind the counter tells us that pizzas everyone’s ordered will be at the table momentarily and asks us what we’d like to drink. His little pad of paper and pencil in hand he takes down everyone’s preferences and then heads back to fulfil the order.

The place isn’t much, but still it never fails to astound this old soul. Everything from the dirt tracked onto the white tile floor to the small cuts in the vinyl of the seats we’re all sitting at holds it’s little fascination. I could just lean back and watch the fan up on the ceiling turn slowly, one of the blades wobbling ever so slightly.

Instead I compromise, listening to the conversations that are going on simultaneously while I appreciate the sheer accomplishments of technology which seem so common in the age. When I awoke after being sealed away in the puzzle for so long I never thought I’d see anything like this, anything so brilliant and yet simplistic and commonplace. The contradictions of this age only seem to make its marvels all the more captivating. When something catches my attention I pull my mind out of the clouds and act the part of a teenager of this modern age. Just another contradiction I love.

The teen brings our drinks in two trips, as the smell of food grows all the more intoxicating. I stick with a tall glass of water; after all I haven’t become accustomed to the fact that the same drink can have more than five different names. For instance if you simply ask for a cola they ask you which kind, and then they ask light or regular. I just can’t understand the difference. Water, on the other hand, is always called water. And you don’t have to worry about it wrecking anything if you happen to knock your glass over.

Only a few minutes after our drinks arrived the pizzas too were set on the fake, marbleised surface of our table. Six large ones if my assumptions are correct, each with different toppings. It all smells so good, but I have no idea what some of the stuff is. I can recognise beef and green peppers but I am lost once again lost after that.

It sure looks like a lot of food, but as soon as Honda and Jou dig in I’m left wondering whether there was indeed enough food for all eight of us. Ryou’s on my left and Yugi on my right followed by Anzu. On the other side of the table are Honda, Jou, Shizuka and Otogi. I don’t think I want to even get close to the pizza in front of Jou and Honda, I might lose a hand. Comparatively the rest of us are eating rather slowly. Well, except for me who’s still debating what to take.

In the end I take a piece from the one closest to me, deciding to live a bit on the ‘wild side’ so to speak. That is, if living on the wild side can be defined as eating pizza with toppings you couldn’t identify if your life depended on it. It’s got a pink kind of meat on it and small yellow chunks. Out of one ear I can hear some refer to it as Hawaiian, though I have no idea what that means.

It proves, however, to be quite delicious, almost sweet even and I soon find myself laughing and talking in between bites like the others. It feels good to let go like this and pretend I’m just like everyone else. I think people are victims of popular misconception. I think the truth of life is that greatness or fame is easy to obtain and normalcy is the elusive creature.

Speaking of elusive creatures, I nearly choke on the bite of pizza I’m currently chewing as the teen behind the counter changes the channel on the small TV, which is mounted in the corner to anther channel. I began to cough, drawing the attention of the others, who invariably look to me, then to the TV and begin to burst out into laughter.

I put the piece of pizza down on my plate and take a drink of my water to clear my throat as I try to simultaneously keep breathing and restraining the blush, which I’m beginning to fell color my cheeks. I swear, shows like this should be illegal, it’s dangerous to people’s health.

“...and tonight’s documentary is on the gaming phenomenon of this century, already around for fifteen years and still growing strong, Duel Monsters is no longer the child’s game it started out as.” I could see my picture next to Kaiba’s out of the corner of my eye. “Even the players of this game have their fans. No one can deny the influence of these two on not only fashion but also many other areas of today’s society. And no one can deny the legions of female fans chasing after one or both of this beautiful pair. Some even contend that their fierce rivalry is covering up a competition of another kind. Those rumours and more assessed later in the show...” At that point I was glad I wasn’t drinking or water would’ve come out my nose, I’m sure.

Thankfully everyone’s laughter rose loud enough to block out the rest of the TV’s message. I don’t think I’ve ever been more embarrassed in my life. Why must people make shows about things like that? Is rumour mongering really that much of a business?

I can hear Jou, just through his laughter, which threatens to have him following over if he gets anymore carried away. “You and money bags? What were they on when they came up with that huh?”

“Besides, that’s just wrong.” Anzu added in, on a somewhat more serious note. “Not that I have anything against homosexuals Yami, it’s just that you’re so nice and Kaiba’s a total jerk. You’d be way too good for him.”

The comments continue until the pizza is remembered and eating resumed. Thankfully no one asks me my opinion on the matter, assuming I think it’s just as ridiculous of an idea as they do. Not that I mind that, it’s far less embarrassing that way.

In all honesty though I wish the rumours, which I might say right now are utterly false, were true and I was having some hot affair with Kaiba. I can admit it now, in the privacy of my own mind that I’m painfully attracted to said brunette. It’s ridiculous I know but I can’t help it.

I’m drawn to him like a moth to a flame, circling but not able to grasp what I crave, yet close enough to be burned. No one would know watching the two of us duel how his insults burn, how they dig deep, always with some merit. And still, as much as he pushes me away, his attitude directed towards me, at best one of reluctant patience I can’t help but want more. Maybe it’s his presence, so strong and commanding or his personality, so self-confident and proud, or even that other side of him he shows so rarely and usually only for Mokuba, but ever since I met him I’ve been addicted.

Love at first sight sounds so horribly cliché and cheap. I avoid calling it that for that specific reason. Infatuation sounds too superficial and lust sounds so juvenile. I really don’t know what to call what I feel for him.

What I do know is that I care for him; I want to be closer to him. I want him to look at me with those enchanting deep blue eyes of his without any anger or hate, I want him to talk to me with out insults and I want, probably more than anything else, to make him happy.

I know every one thinks he’s cold, heartless even. They do concede that he cares for Mokuba, but I believe that there’s more than that underneath that mask he wears, the one that lets him be protector, big brother, businessman and human all at once when others would crumble so easily. Call it instinct or blind hope but I think he’s so much more than he lets on.

As well I know it takes a special someone to get him to take off that mask. Mokuba for sure is one, as it should be. But I can’t help but wonder if there would be room in his life for one more, if I would be capable of something like that.

Or am I just another opponent to be defeated? I wish I knew how he saw me, what he thought of me as a person. Do my radical dreams even stand a chance, or are they built on a foundation of sand? I always hope that I’ll catch some inkling when I see him, but I guess that’s wishful thinking on my part.

Maybe, it’s time that I work on a solution to my problem actively instead of just passively waiting for it to drop into my lap. After all, who said that Kaiba had to write all the rules to this game, and that I had to follow them? It’s time I made some plays of my own.

Yes, don’t people of this age say ‘go after what you want before it slips away?’ Of course, I’ll have to do some planning first. Kaiba is the worthiest opponent I’ve ever faced, and this is one game I want to win even if the deck is stacked in his favour. At the very least, I’ll give my best.

Should I fail than I can only conclude that I’m not the kind of person for Kaiba, either that or Mokuba is the only person destined to be looked on kindly by Japan’s foremost businessman.

But, after all, I’ll never know if I don’t try.

#-#-#-#-#

Well, that’s all for chapter one. This is the longest chapter I’ve ever written. And trust me, it’s hard to write a story without angst, which is what I’m trying to do with this as a nice light alternative to my other stories. I honestly feel out of my element with this so tell me if you like, or even if you hate it, that way I know if it’s something people would like to see more of.

In the next chapter: Yugi’s curiosity gets the best of him, and contrary to his best intentions and rational thought, takes another look at Yami’s dairy, only to find out some ‘very’ interesting information. As well, Yami starts concocting his plans to find out what kind of feelings Kaiba really has for him. Add to all of this a very unsuspecting Kaiba, and what will we have before the end of this story? Utter madness.