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“… and the Door to Darkness has opened.”
An uncanny, fanged smirk stretched wide across the Spirit of the Puzzle’s face as the group of teenaged good-for-nothings screamed and crumbled to the pavement, twitching before they passed out cold.
Slowly, the glow of the Eye of Horus dimmed. The Spirit’s bangs, which had been suspended by the force of its magic, settled back around his face. Sparing the hooligans one last glance, the Spirit of the Puzzle pivoted on his heel, striding down the small street back towards the center of town. It was time to get Yuugi’s body back home.
It was strange to think about, in context of everything, the ease with which the Spirit could navigate the area now. The rush of the Shadow Game had largely ebbed away by the time the Spirit of the Puzzle had made it about halfway back to Yuugi’s neighborhood, making way for other thoughts.
The Spirit of the Puzzle had been reflecting upon himself much more, lately, especially after his meeting with the Spirit of the Ring.
In many ways, he believes he was very lucky that his counterpart was Yuugi. When he had first obtained freedom through the completion of the Puzzle, all he had felt was anguish. Rage and anger held back for thousands of years, the endless torment of being trapped in his own mind for so long. However, naturally, through Yuugi’s day to day life, the Spirit of the Puzzle picked up on the intricacies of living in the modern world, far away from Egypt. Slowly he started to understand the rhythm of his host’s life, and the relative peace and tranquility he enjoyed, along with all the strange technology. But more importantly, it was only through Yuugi that he slowly grasped the importance of friendship and the power of compassion. Only through him, had the Spirit wanted to become kinder.
The Spirit of the Ring didn’t have someone like Yuugi – however, he had something else: memories. For the Spirit of the Puzzle, his host was his guiding star, and his priority was to protect him from harm. The Spirit of the Ring was clearly malicious, caring very little for the well-being of his host, yet he was driven by some profound goal beyond the Spirit of the Puzzle’s comprehension.
As much as its participants had tried to move away from the disastrous Monster World campaign, the game, and their encounter with the Spirit of the Ring, it all weighed on the Spirit of the Puzzle more than he would readily admit. While had had, by the grace of his host, become more judicious and doled out fewer fatal punishments, when he saw the manic grin on the other spirit, it was mirror of how he used to be.
Of how he sometimes still could be.
Had he known more of his past, or had he been privy to whatever the Spirit of the Ring knew, would he have been different, too? Would he be the same as the Spirit of the Ring?
He couldn’t rule out that possibility. He didn’t like that uncertainty.
He had reached the small bridge, which connected the more residential area he was coming from, towards a small lit street with a handful of restaurants. He peered over the railing, to the small, slow river below. The half-moon was reflected clearly in the water’s surface, but he was too far away to see his own reflection.
“Yuugi? What are you doing out here?”
The Spirit of the Puzzle knew that voice. He turned, and, coming from the commerce district, was Jounouchi, a dirty apron around his waist and a red and white bandana around his head. The Spirit turned his head and their eyes met. Jounouchi’s face then dawned with recognition.
“Oh, are you the other one?”
The Spirit nodded. “Good evening, Jounouchi.”
“Hey, what the heck. Are you enjoying the sights at night?”
The Spirit thought about the pile of teens snoring on the concrete some blocks behind him, “I was just returning from some business.” The Spirit gave Jounouchi another once over. “How about yourself?”
“Me? I just got off from my shift that the ramen place over there,” he said, gesturing towards the street. “I’m on my way back now. Wanna walk together? I know you’re strong but some people might come out of the woodwork just to harass ya since you’re a little guy.”
The Spirit gave him a small smile. “Sure. Thank you.”
They walked along the street. Some of the street stalls were packing up, but the smell of roasted chestnuts, of meat skewers remained in the warm night air.
“So, uh, do you like dango? The lady who sells them at the end of the street might still be popping.”
Did he like dango? The Spirit of the Puzzle couldn’t say for sure. But he replied, “Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t ask you to part with your hard-earned money.”
“It’s my treat! I never properly got to thank you for, well.” Jounouchi rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, for Monster World, of course, but I guess you were in action even before then, helping us out behind the scenes and all that.”
“I was only doing what had to be done.” The Spirit glanced up at his companion. “I know you would have done the same for Yuugi.”
Jounouchi beamed. “Of course I would! He’s my good buddy.”
The Spirit of the Puzzle felt a swell of fondness at that. “He appreciates you very much, you know.”
“How do you know that?”
The Spirit shrugged. “We share a body. I can feel these things, particularly if his emotions are strong.”
“Huh… does that mean Yuugi can feel what you feel, too?”
The Spirit had to ponder on that. “No… I don’t think so. But as of late, our connection has grown stronger. I wouldn’t be surprised if it could happen eventually.”’
“No offense, but the soul sharing stuff you guys have is so weird…”
The dango stall was still open. With a little bit of haggling and a late-night discount, Jounouchi had cheaply procured two sticks of mitarashi dango. He grinned as he handed one to the Spirit. “Eat up!”
The Spirit took the end of the skewer by the tip of his fingers. He took in the round shape of each dumpling and the strange brown glaze that was spread across the top. He looked back at Jounouchi, who was in his own world, wolfing down the treat. The Spirit supposed the right way to eat this was just to pull each dumpling off the skewer with his teeth.
“I don’t know if I like dango,” the Spirit quietly admitted. Beside him, Jounouchi, who was nibbling his skewer for any leftover traces, looked at him with surprise.
“Aw man, why didn’t you say so?”
“I didn’t say I disliked it,” the Spirit clarified. “But… I also don’t know if I like it. I haven’t had it before.”
“Whew. Then you should definitely try it – I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like dango! And it’s kind of cool that I get to see an ancient spirit try it for the first time.”
A first. The Spirit never thought about it that way. “I suppose you’re right.” Cautiously, the Spirit took one of the dumplings between his teeth, and pulled. There was more resistance than he thought – it was very sticky.
“…Well?”
The Spirit took his time to think about the flavor. The dumpling was soft, yet chewy. Elastic almost. The dumpling itself was sweet, as was the glaze. But the glaze added an extra dimension, just the right amount of savory.
He swallowed. He discovered that he was looking forward to the rest of the skewer.
“It’s delicious!” he confirmed.
“Told ya so!”
The Spirit took his time to polish off the rest of the skewer. He was almost disappointed when he had eaten the last one, but at the same time, was happily sated.
“Thank you for introducing me to dango.”
“No problem, no problem.” By now, they had exited the commercial district and entering an area with lines of houses punctuated regularly by street lamps along the sidewalk.
Then, Jounouchi, asked, “What kind of food do you like?”
“…I’m not sure.” The Spirit said. He looked up towards the sky. It was hard to se the stars. “In fact, I don’t remember very much about myself in general, other than I originate from Ancient Egypt. A lot of the details, like who my family was, what my life was like… my name – those are all lost to me.”
“Wow… I had no idea. That’s rough.”
“It’s… fine.” The Spirit looked ahead. “When I was first summoned to the world, I had nothing. Nothing but this potent, aimless rage. An instinct to punish evil.” He closed his eyes. “It’s thanks to Yuugi, and all of you really, that I’ve found my way again.”
“It’s nothing. Second, don’t talk down on yourself like that.”
The Spirit stopped walking, as did Jounouchi. “What do you mean?”
Jounouchi crossed his arms. “First of all, none of us, not Yuugi, not Anzu, not even me or Honda, would be here without your help. We’d probably be fried in Death-T somewhere, with that bastard, Kaiba.”
“Second of all! I disagree that you have nothing.”
“You don’t know that!”
“But I do.” Jounouchi flourished his skewer in the Spirit’s direction. “First of all, you’ve got principles. Second of all, you’ve got a personality. It’s obvious especially when you and Yuug are side by side – anyone could tell the difference. So even if you don’t have your memories, or whatever, you’re still a good guy who stands by his friends until the end.” Jounouchi flourished his skewer again. “Unlike that Ring bastard. I’ll never forgive him for what he did to us.”
The Spirit of the Ring…
“How do you feel about the Spirit of the Ring?”
Jounouchi looked at him incredulously, “I hate the guy, duh! Heck, even Bakura is terrified of him, and they had to share a body.”
“He doesn’t frighten you?”
“Hell naw!” Jounouchi paused. Then said, “Okay fine maybe a little bit… but with you, Yuugi and all our friends on our side, he’ll never stand a chance!”
The Spirit couldn’t help but smile at Jounouchi’s confidence. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Heh. ‘Course I am – I’m Jounouchi Katsuya, after all!”
Then, out of nowhere, Jounouchi slapped the Spirit on the shoulder, catching him off guard.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“Just a friendly little nudge. I guess they didn’t do that in Ancient Egypt…?”
Jounouchi snickered at his own joke. It wasn’t that funny, but Jounouchi’s demeanor was contagious, and the Spirit found himself mirroring Jounouchi’s smile.
In a few minutes, they would reach Yuugi’s residence. In fact, the Spirit could see it now, even in the dark.
“Thank you Jounouchi, for the dango. And for the company.”
“Don’t sweat it, man. That’s what friends are for.”
Friends? He must have looked somewhat surprised, because Jounouchi elaborated. “Yeah. You’re our friend, so we’ve got your back, too. That’s how it works.”
It was interesting to hear it said like that. The Spirit had always thought of Jounouchi and crew as Yuugi’s friends, that he felt fondly about, but not as people who had a direct connection to him.
His friends. It had a nice ring to it. The Spirit had no heart, but he felt warm inside.
Jounouchi had fallen silent. He seemed to be lost in thought, looking for the right words.
Jounouchi began again. “I don’t really know how to say this but. Maybe it was since Death-T, or maybe even earlier. I think something really big is coming. Do you know what I mean?”
The Spirit understood exactly what he meant. “I do.”
Jounouchi nodded. “Especially after Monster World. We’re all trying to forget about it, to be honest, but something doesn’t sit right with me. But out of all of us, well, he hasn’t said anything, but I think Yuugi feels it the most.”
They reach the doorstep of the Kame Game Shop, but both boys remain on the steps, standing resolutely face to face. “You know how you were saying, you think Yuugi appreciates me and all that?”
“I remember.”
“I can say the same for you. He looks up to you. He respects you a lot.”
The Spirit lets that sink in. Jounouchi continues.
“So I want you to promise me something – keep being his friend. His partner. Don’t ever let it become… whatever Bakura has, no offence.”
That’s one promise that the Spirit is sure he can keep. Yuugi is all he has. “I promise, do not worry.”
“I wasn’t – but I just had to let that out.” Jounouchi stretches. “Whew – okay! I’m glad I got that off my chest! My shoulders hurt from carrying all those trays, man.”
The Spirit smiles. “Make sure you get home safe, too, Jounouchi.”
Jounouchi waves. “I’ll get home just fine. I just can’t believe we still have school tomorrow. Or Yuugi does, anyway. What do you even do while he’s at school?”
“Recently, I’ve been listening to the lectures, too. I find them to be quite fascinating.”
“Shouldn’t have even asked. Well, with that – good night, you nerd!”
The Spirit waved, and went to unlock the door, feeling light on his feet. He changed back into Yuugi’s pajamas, washed his face and slipped back under the boy’s covers. As he closed his eyes, handing Yuugi back control, he thought, no matter what fate had in store for them, in a future where he was no longer alone, maybe everything would turn out all right.