Disclaimers: Yu-Gi-Oh! Belongs to Kazuki Takahashi. and "I’m With You" song belongs to Avril Lavigne.

I’m With You

I’m standing on the bridge

I’m waiting in the dark

I thought that you’d be here by now

There’s nothing but the rain

No footsteps on the ground

I’m listening but there’s no sound

She gasped for air, but it wouldn’t come. She was sinking below the surface. Slipping. Deeper. Deeper. She would surely drown. Making one last ditch attempt to survive, she thrust her arm up, breaking the surface, and swung about wildly, searching for something to hold on to. She would have gasped, were she not below the surface. For right when her hope gave out, someone grabbed her wrist. She tightened her hand around theirs, and felt herself being pulled up to the surface. Now she could breathe. She gasped for air, and cried. Cried for joy that someone had saved her. She looked up to see who had saved her, and saw him. Crimson eyes, full of concern. She knew those eyes. She had seen them somewhere before. In her dreams, and somewhere else. Somewhere she couldn’t remember. She smiled and opened her mouth to thank her saviour.

The sky darkened suddenly, and she was alone, in a forest. Anna blinked, and looked around. "Now wait a second. I was at a river. This must be another dream."

Anna opened her eyes and looked around. "It was a dream. Just another dream, with that same boy. Who is he? Why do I feel like I know him? And why does he always appear to me in my dreams?"

Isn’t anyone trying to find me?
Won’t somebody come take me home?

"ANNA! You’d better get up! We’re going to be late for our first day at school!" Anna’s sister Cassandra shouted from the hallway.

"I’m coming!" Anna called back, hopping out of bed and quickly getting dressed, tripping over an unpacked box from the move, and crashing to the floor. "Oops." Anna mumbled, picking herself up, and brushing herself off.

"What are you doing now, you clown?" Cassandra asked, walking in the door. Cassandra was already dressed to go, long blue hair tied in a ponytail. Anna and Cassandra weren’t really sisters. They were step sisters. Cassandra’s mother had married Anna’s father, both of them in their second marriage. Anna couldn’t believe that Cassandra’s hair naturally matched her eyes. But she never saw any dye, and there was never different coloured roots in her step sister’s hair.

"I just tripped over my stuff." Anna shrugged, getting a brush and trying to tug it through her sleep mussed hair. "OW!" She complained as she reached a knot.

Cassandra rolled her eyes and sighed. "What am I going to do with you?" She mused, as she took the brush from Anna, and started to brush Anna’s brown hair, until it was tangle free. Cassandra grabbed the hair, near the root, then tugged the brush through, so that there was no tug on the actual roots themselves, thus preventing any pain. "There you go. Now wash your face. We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up. And mom told you last night to unpack."

"What’s the point? We’ll just be packing up next week and moving again to, oh I don’t know, Timbuktu." Anna replied glumly. "We never stay in one place long enough for me to make any friends. So I’m not going to even bother unpacking."

"Anna, things will be different this time. TRUST me. We’re home. Now come on. Let’s get to school and make new friends." Cassandra assured her.

Anna smiled and looked at her step sister. "You’re right. I shouldn’t give up. Okay! Today’s the day I meet HIM!"

"Who’s him?" Cassandra asked.

It’s a damn cold night

Trying to figure out this life

Won’t you take me by the hand

Take me somewhere new

Don’t know who you are

But I’m with you

I’m with you

"I don’t know yet. But I know I’m gonna meet someone special. And I’m sure it will be today!"

"Is this about that dream you keep having? What’s this mystery man like then?" Cassandra asked, deciding to indulge her step sister.

Anna clapped her hands together and stared into space, a light blush touching her cheeks. "I’ve never seen much of him. I see him in my dreams all the time, but there’s only one detail I ever remember. … His eyes."

Cassandra waved her hand in front of Anna. "Earth to Anna? Hello? Come back down girl. We’ve got to go to school now."

"Yeah." Anna agreed. The two rushed out, Anna hastily splashing water over her face, and grabbing a slice of buttered toast.

---

"Yami, come on. We’re gonna be late!" Yugi said impatiently as Yami walked over to him by the door. Yami sighed as if it pained him to go through the morning ritual of heading out for the bus, and going to school. He had been doing that a lot lately. And quite frankly, Yugi was sick of it. If it were just the sighing, Yugi would be able to deal with it. But Yami just walked SO slowly! "Yami, we are going to miss the bus. Will you get your game face on and move it, please?"

"Sure whatever." Yami muttered tonelessly as he walked past Yugi and out the door. Yugi frowned. He had tried to speak to Yami. But it was just so hard. Yami seemed to have made a barrier around himself or something, and refused to open up.

I’m looking for a place

I’m searching for a face

Is anybody here I know

Cause nothing’s going right

And everything’s a mess

And no one likes to be alone

Yami and Yugi stepped onto the crowded bus. Yugi immediately settled beside Hanasaki, and the two spoke happily about different comic book heroes. Hanasaki’s obsession was rubbing off on the gamer. Yami made his way to the back of the bus, mumbling apologies to people he bumped into as the bus set off again.

Isn’t anyone trying to find me?
Won’t somebody come take me home?

Anna looked up as the bus stopped and two boys stepped up onto the bus. They had a similar appearance, but one was taller. Anna was sure she’d seen them before, but reckoned that if she ever had, she would have remembered with a hairstyle like theirs. The shorter of the two sat beside a kid with glasses, and they started looking at a comic book and talking about it. The taller one stood nearby for a moment, before slowly heading down the bus, toward the back with his head down, shoulders hunched as if he held the weight of the whole world on them, and eyes on the ground. 'Poor guy.' Anna thought to herself, recognizing the obvious signs of depression.

It’s a damn cold night

Trying to figure out this life

Won’t you take me by the hand

Take me somewhere new

Don’t know who you are

But I’m with you

I’m with you

Yeah

Yami reached the back of the bus and sat on an empty seat. He ignored the ghetto blaster behind him, pumping out full volume rock music. Sozoji was just an idiot anyway, not to mention scared of Yami. What threat could he possibly pose? Yami turned his head toward the window, and stared at nothing. He glanced up five minutes later, feeling someone’s gaze, and for the briefest of moments, crimson met aqua green. The brown haired girl turned away quickly, blushing. Yami turned back to staring at nothing.

Nothing. Just like his existence. There was nothing for him to do. He was bored. Boredom 24/7 was depressing. And no one was able to help. He couldn’t even get entertainment from Kaiba. Because Kaiba had come back to school, and that took what little time he had spare when he wasn’t working or sleeping. Something to do with one of his big projects. Joey was either with Mai, or his sister, Serenity. Tristan was usually off trying to win Serenity’s heart over Duke’s, while Duke did the same back. Yugi was caught up trying to share time out between them all, but was giving up on Yami slightly. Yami didn’t blame him. After all, Yami was the one pushing him away. Not because he didn’t like Yugi, or that he didn’t enjoy Yugi’s company, but because Yugi worried about him too much. Well, maybe not. With Yami’s current behaviour, Yugi had every right to worry. But Yami didn’t particularly want any special attention. He wanted to be treated the way he usually was, or left to mope around as he did now.

And the reason to such an act from the King of Games, former Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, was a simple one. He felt that he had no purpose. He was regretting coming back. Not because of his friends, as he cherished them all deeply, but because he was nothing now. And so he sat on the school bus staring at nothing.

But why did this bother him? Thinking about it made Yami’s head spin. It wasn’t the whole important person thing he cared about. He couldn’t care less if people didn’t notice him. … But it wasn’t that people didn’t notice him. If people didn’t notice him, then that girl wouldn’t be sitting staring at him again. Yami turned his head once again to meet the green eyed, brown haired girl’s gaze. She smiled at him, then turned away with a blush again.

Yami frowned. That girl looked an awful lot like Mana. But it couldn’t be. Mana was in the afterlife. And the girl next to her reminded Yami of someone he didn’t really know too well from the afterlife, Kisara. Yami turned back to the window, feeling even worse. But why? He had wanted to come back! Didn’t he? Or … WAS he having second thoughts?

Why is everything so confusing?
Maybe I’m just out of my mind…
Yeah, yeah

Yami sighed and stood up. He walked nearer to the front of the bus, and stood near Yugi. The bus came to a halt, and Yami followed Yugi off the bus and into the school grounds. "Okay, seriously Yami, cause I’m getting sick of this. What’s wrong? Why won’t you talk to me about it? You know, that’s what’s really driving me up the wall." Yugi said suddenly.

Yami glanced up, then shrugged. "I really don’t want to talk about it." He replied. He looked over his shoulder and stopped. That girl. She was staring at him again. She blushed seeing that he’d caught her, and then hastily turned away.

Yugi rolled his eyes at Yami’s answer, and looked at him, to see that he was staring at someone. Yugi followed his line of gaze. He smiled. "Ah, what have we here?" He mused quietly. "So those two are the new students to join our class. Something caught your attention, eh Yami?" Yugi asked lightly.

Yami looked at him and shrugged. "She reminds me of someone. And she keeps staring at me."

"Maybe you remind her of someone? She looks like Mana."

"Mana’s dead." Yami muttered flatly, and walked off.

"Ah-ha!" Yugi exclaimed, rushing after Yami. "Now we’re getting somewhere! So, what was the deal between you and Mana anyway. She says you’re her closest friend, but I think there’s more to it than that."

"Said. Yugi. Not says. Says implies that she’s still alive. She’s not. So it’s said. She said. Not she says. I don’t want to discuss this, Yugi." Yami said as he entered the school building.

"Yami." Yugi caught up as Yami stopped at his locker. "Please speak to me about it. I hate seeing you like this. I keep trying to help you, but you just keep pushing me away."

"I’m pushing you away because I don’t want to feel better. I want to mope around and be miserable." Yami replied with a sigh.

"But WHY?" Yugi gasped. "Why would you do that to yourself?"

"I believe it’s one of the symptoms of depression, Yugi." Yami replied quietly.

"Yami, you don’t have to go through life feeling miserable. You’ve got friends. And whatever your problem is, we’re here to help. It’s what friends are for! Just talk to us!"

"You can’t help me Yugi. No one can." Yami turned away, so he wouldn’t have to see Yugi’s reaction to what he was about to tell him. "Answer me this. What’s the point? What’s the point of life. Day after day, the same routine. Why am I here? Why do I go through the same boring routine day after day? What do I have to gain from it? What do I have to gain from life? It all comes down to the fact that everyone dies, and it’s all for nothing. So why bother? I’m not DOING anything worthwhile." Yami looked down.

"Yami," Yugi said softly. He smiled and tried not to laugh. "Shall I tell you a secret? No one knows the answers to a lot of those questions. But Yami, you might not be doing anything worthwhile, in your opinion, right now, but you have in the past. And I know if the opportunity comes again, you’ll rise to it, and save the world again. You always tell me to follow my heart, so why don’t you?"

"It was following my heart that got me here. I’m wondering if it was wrong. … I’m homesick, Yugi." Yami replied quietly. "I miss my family and friends from Egypt. And if I’d stayed there, I would have missed you and the others. I can’t win. It’s a pitiful existence, and I can’t stand being it." Yami looked up as a hand rested on his shoulder. He turned and looked at Yugi.

"One or the other, huh? A no win situation. And you’re worried you made the wrong choice. But it’s not over yet Yami. Things will brighten up. You’ll see. Remember what Grandpa always says. "Treat life like a game." You know as well as I do that things get really dreary in games before the happy ending. So, be strong, and bear with it. Let me take some of the weight. … I’ll see you in class." Yugi walked away to let Yami think about what he’d said. "Yami!" He called from down the corridor. "Your choice meant everything to me, if it’s any consolation."

Yami watched Yugi, then placed his hand over his heart and closed his eyes. After a moment he looked up again and smiled. "You little brat. I said I wanted to be miserable." Yami grabbed his book and shut his locker, before walking to the class, upright, and briskly.

It’s a damn cold night

Trying to figure out this life

Won’t you take me by the hand

Take me somewhere new

Don’t know who you are

But I

I’m with you

I’m with you

Anna and Cassandra stood in front of the class as the teacher introduced them. "Now, where shall we sit you. Anna, there’s a seat next to Yami. Yami, raise your hand so Anna can see where you are, please." Yami shrugged, and complied. Anna smiled and walked over, taking a seat next to Yami, and trying to catch his eye, as he stared out the window, resting his chin on his hand, having already lowered it. "Cassandra, why don’t you sit next to Kaiba. Kaiba--"

"Whatever." Kaiba snapped, raising his hand for a moment then lowering it to go back to his laptop, under the desk. Yami glanced over and smirked, then turned to the front of the class again.

"Good morning Kaiba." Cassandra said as she sat down next to him.

"Hn. Whatever." Kaiba muttered, trying to ignore the class around him.

Anna went to pick up her pencil, but accidentally knocked it off the table. "Oops." She muttered, and leaned forward to retrieve it, to find it being held out to her by Yami.

"Here you go Anna." Yami said, but stopped and gasped. Anna gasped as well and stared at him. That line sounded so familiar, to them both.

'Those eyes. That voice. Those words. Where do I know him from?'

---

A piece of fruit out of reach. She jumped up, trying to grab it. But couldn’t quite reach it. He came up behind her, reached up and plucked the fruit from the tree. "Aww." She felt disappointed, that she wouldn’t get it.

"Here you go Mana." He said holding out the fruit to her.

"Thank you Prince!" She said happily.

---

Anna blinked. "Mana?" She muttered experimentally.

"What did you just say?" Yami asked, looking like he’d seen a ghost.

"What?" Anna looked up. She covered her mouth. "Oops. Did I say that out loud?"

"It can’t be!" Yami muttered, turning away, looking shocked. 'She looks like Mana. She acts like Mana. Her voice is the same. And even their names are similar! But could this really be her?'

Anna took her pencil and turned her head away, blushing furiously. 'Egypt. The Afterlife. It’s all coming back to me. Oh my gosh. I hope he didn’t see me blushing. I can’t believe it! All this time. All those dreams! My Pharaoh. I was dreaming of my Pharaoh! I’M IN LOVE WITH MY PHARAOH! I really hope he didn’t see that blush. If he did. Oh gosh, what would he think? We’re supposed to be childhood friends. Not-- oh my gosh.'

"Mana." Yami said quietly. "How could you know that name? How else could you possibly know that name? It’s too much of a coincidence."

'I remember it all now! The afterlife. Atem came back to us in the afterlife, but missed his mortal friends, and so returned to them. I missed Atem, and begged to follow. I was given a new life to do so.' "Atem…" Anna whispered. She was aware of Yami staring at her now.

Take me by the hand

Take me somewhere new

Don’t know who you are

But I

I’m with you

I’m with you

'Mana? Atem? Why do those names sound so right? Why do they make Anna and Yami sound fake? Why does Cassandra sound fake?' Cassandra looked at Kaiba. Seto … Cassandra gasped. 'Cassandra sounds fake, because my name is Kisara!'

Take me somewhere new

I don’t know who you are

But I

I’m with you

Oh I’m with you

I’m with you

---

AFTERMATH

"Yami!" Kaiba called suddenly.

Yami turned around and looked up at him. Anna was standing beside Yami, and Cassandra beside Kaiba. "Let me guess. You want a rematch. Right? I’m right, aren’t I?"

"Yes, a rematch. Only, this will be a tag team duel. Couples versus each other. In other words, you and Anna, against Cassandra and I. Up for it?" Kaiba asked.

"I’m always up for a challenge. Do you feel like duelling Mana?" Yami asked.

"I love it when you call me that, Atem." Anna said brightly. "Sure I’m in. Let’s go!"

"Kaiba, we accept your challenge." Yami said, turning to Kaiba with a smirk.

…

And Yami and Anna won, much to Kaiba’s annoyance.

END