by Matt Morwell
A/N: Insert usual disclaimer here (I don't own YGO, but I collect cards!). This plot bunny raced up to me, bit my ankle at midnight (right when I was going to go to bed – how inconvenient for me), and insisted I write. So I whipped this up in the space of about 15 - 20 minutes. Enjoy!
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Here I stand. On a bench. In Domino City. Waiting for someone. Waiting for someone.
There go passersby. They think, "Strange. He isn't moving." I care not. Why should I? I should not.
I do not.
Who am I?
I am me.
I am nobody.
I am another.
I am... bald.
For a split-second, clarity of mind returns to me. For most of my days now, I have only been able to think in the most basic terms, only been allowed to think in the most basic terms. He doesn't let me think for myself anymore, not so long as he can help it. He exerts two different kinds of control; the first is the mystical control that I still have yet to grasp, and it is likely I never will grasp it. The second is the control that everyone knows about and nobody wants to face. He breaks me, every day. He pierces my skin. He has taken every hair I have ever grown. He abuses me and makes me strike ridiculous poses and allows people to mock me, people to jeer at me. Birds excrete on my shoulders, dogs urinate on my legs. And he doesn't care.
He needs me.
He needs me.
I am special.
No.
I am him.
I am nobody.
The clarity, it's back. It all comes rushing back to me again. I can remember; I have the simplest joy of being able to remember! It's all coming back to me now, and I want to move, I want to move, I want to scream, I want to be heard, I want to tell them that this is not right and I don't belong here and I'm under his control and somebody help me please!
I am nobody.
I am another.
I am needed.
My feet move. They move me. I move there. I move first. Then I run. I run fast. Must run faster. Must find him. Must meet him. Must challenge him. Must destroy him. Must take it.
Take Millennium Puzzle.
Puzzle on him.
Take Millennium Puzzle.
I am nobody.
I am another.
It's back again. The wind howls around us as the great red creature emerges from the confines of its card. Its huge tail stretches out, around me, around a pole, a light fixture, a newspaper stand, and trails into the darkened heavens as it stares at that person trapped within the spiked cage. Who is he? I don't know who he is, and I want to. Maybe he can help me!
I am nobody.
I am another.
I am him.
I am nothing.
Simply a tool.
His play thing.
A teddy bear.
Not teddy bear. Those are soft. Those are warm. Those are nice. He is not.
I care not. I am nobody.
I am another.
An empty shell.
A mindless being.
No, not mindless. But yes, empty.
I am nothing.
My humanity comes back to me for another second as he grows impatient for the man across from me to... make his move? What the devil is that supposed to mean, "Make his move?" What is this? Oh, that's right... this is Duel Monsters. It was my favorite game! It still is! ... What? We're playing Duel Monsters? I'm playing Duel Monsters with this man? The monsters are real? What's happening to me?! I'm going insane and I can't do anything about it hey you over there don't look down at those stupid cards look at me look into my eyes I can't say anything to you because he won't let me say anything but I need someone to help me maybe you can help me maybe you can get me far far away from him so he won't abuse me anymore and I can live my life the way I want to and I can think and do everything I ever wanted to do and find my own future and be rid of him oh please help me help me help me help me help me help me help me help me help me help me helpmehelpmehelpmehelpmehelpmehelpmeHELPMEHELPMEHELPMEHELPME!!!
I am nobody.
I am another.
...
I have lost.
I have failed.
He won't win.
He did win.
He won't win.
He will suffer.
I will suffer.
I will forget.
I care not.
I am nobody.
I am another.
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