His Darkside

Joey once more found duelist as he walked passed them miniature flames still flickered in the backs of his eyes. Hearing some tails of a undefeatable duelist Joey headed in the direction where he figured he would find Yugi.

Yugi was sitting at the a table in the park munching what he had gotten for lunch. It was a nice place but he was bored all of his friends having gone in all directions to find duels or other friends.

Spotting the boy Joey smiled not wanting to wait to tell him of what he had acquired. "Yo Yug." Joey called out as he ran up caring the rod in his hand.

"Hey Joey! Am I glad to see you its been so dull..." He went silent as a voice in his head started to speak and he blinked looking at the Sennan Rod. "Umm Joey?"

"Yeah Yug?"

"Where did you get that?"

"From a old friend of ours.."

"nd? nd? But. Isn’t that Malik's Rod? Joey how?"

Joey grinned. "He hurt my feelings... so I took it."

Yugi blinked starring at him.
"Umm. Ok Joey."

"He helped me admit something to myself, but he then hurt my feelings.. so I decided to take something of his... well two something’s." Joey said a wide beaming smile.

"Two somethings? Admit something to yourself? Joey are you alright?"

"Never better Yug." said the blonde as he took out a god card.

Yugi's eyes got wide.
"Did you win a duel with Malik? Joey that’s amazing,"

"Err.... Well...." Joey said rubbing the back of his neck.

Yugi tilted his head.

"I kind of... well took them..."

"Joey! That’s against Tournament rules you have to win cards." Yugi cried. "Besides stealing is wrong Joey!"

Joey sighed. "Sorry Yug...but you said you needed the card, and besides he had tried to hurt us countless times before."

"It doesn’t matter if you use that card, even have it in you deck in a duel Kaiba's satellites will find out and you'll be kicked out!"

Joey nodded, and sighed. He then slipped the card into the back of his jeans pocket. Then he took out another card to slip into his deck. "Fine. I wont use the card Yug, but I wont give him the rod back. The ass already tried to use n men me. TWICE!"

"I’m so sorry." he murmured then threw his arms around him. "Are you ok? Did he hurt you?"

"Err.. well... He punched me once..." Joey said rather sheepishly not knowing how to tell his best friend what all happened.

"Oh! My poor Joey!" he said hugging him tighter.

"I'm sorry Yug.."

"Its ok it wasn’t your fault. I’m glad you took them that way he wont hurt you anymore."

Joey gulped, but then related the whole story to Yugi, and waited for their friendship to come to a end.

Yugi couldn’t help but stare unsure of what he was supposed to say or do. He blinked opening his mouth then closed it then tried again still without success. Then he sat down heavily.
"S-So you... have a dark you?" He asked finally as the only thing he could get out.

"I..I..I don’t know.."

He looked away.
"Then... you did all that... as yourself...?"

"I..I..I don’t know.. I don’t know why I did what I did... I know something in my enjoyed it a part of myself... yet I even scared myself.." Joey sighed he was so damned confused by all of this.

Yugi wrapped his arms around himself not liking at all that he was feeling afraid for his best friend.

"Yug.. what if I don’t have a Yami... what if its.. well what if its just me?"

"I don’t know. I’m... I don’t know Joey..." he said shaking his head.

Joey was really frightened right now. "W-what does Yami think?"

"He doesn’t like it. He wants me to get up and run from you." He whispered.

Joey's eyes glistened with tears upon their edge. "I would never hurt you Yug.... or Yami.." Joey then got up, and sought after at duel.

"Joey! Please don’t go!" Yugi cried.

"Yami thinks its best you shouldn’t be about me, then he is probably right.. I don’t want to hurt you Yug, and if I do have a Yami like that who knows what he would do to you, and if its me... then.. then..." Joey shut up at that instance not wanting to even think of it.

"I don’t care about any of that! Your my best friend Joey!" He said running after him.

Joey sighed. "Thanks Yug..."

Yugi threw his arms around Joey again then looked up at him near tears.
"I would do anything for you! I would do anything to help you so please... please let me stay with you." He said.

Joey nodded. "Hey Yug.. mind if I stick about you for awhile?"

He shook his head.

"Stay as long as you want."

Joey smiled, and then picked up his little friend, and hugged him tightly. He then smiled, and kisses Yug briefly. "Hey Yug think gramps as anything I can carry this with?" he said as he set the other down.

Yugi blushed then nodded.
"I-I think he would. W-Wanna go look?"

Joey nodded, "Sorry Yug." he muttered as he started off.

He tilted his head.
"Why be sorry? What for?" He asked as they walked.

"the err.. " Joey blushed.

Yugi giggled.
"I don’t mind. Your just happy." He said smiling.

Joey smiled, and walked along. "Yugi.. anyway Yami could see into my mind, and tell me if.. well if I am crazy, or if I have a Yami too?"

"No. The only one who could do that is Shadi and I have no idea what happened to him after I saw him in Pegasus's castle.” He said. "That or Pegasus's Sennan Eye but it was stolen."

"I would guess the eye. Malik said this had been in his family for a long time."
"Hmmm." He looked over then smiled seeing the hotel where the Kame Game store then took Joey's hand and ran over to it. "Come on."

Joey grinned, and was drug along by his best friend. "Right Yug coming," said Joey though tiny flames flickered behind his eyes though they didn’t seem menacing like before.

Yugi started to search around looking for something suitable for the rod so that it wouldn’t look like he was carrying something so valuable or something so dangerous. He tilted his head.
"Hmmm. Wait! I know. Come on I have an old backpack that we can put it in in my room." He said heading up the stairs.

"Its cool and I drew all over it but it should work."

Joey laughed some. "Thanks Yugi.."

He went into his closet digging around then lied across his bed hanging off of it looking under it digging out a ton of miscellaneous stuff.

"Its around here somewhere!" He called unsure if he had been followed or if he was still downstairs.

"Dang Yugi... where did you hide Atlantice?"

"no doubt on one of these shelves with the Dead Sea Scrolls." He said looking over his shoulder to grin then went back to digging.

Joey just smiled, and felt that odd presses once more. He didn’t feel the need for pain as in other times, but still Joey began to worry. Heading out of the room Joey dashed into the bathroom locking himself in.

"Joey?" He called then got up following the backpack over his shoulder. Then knocked on the door. "You ok? I found the bag."

"Yug.. I can feel it again..."

"It? Oh! Joey are you ok?" He tried to open the door but found it locked. "Joey?"

Joey sighed he began to feel like before as if he was only in partial control of his body. As if he was only suggesting what he could do. No answer came to Yugi though. No voice answered back despite what he wanted to tell him.

"Joey! I’m coming in ok?!"

Still no voice answered Yugi back. He just stared amselmself in the mirror. Slight differences in his appears could be seen now though. Unlike before where only his eyes seemed to denote any change.

"Joey!" Yugi looked around then got a pen from his room and used it to pick the lock swinging the door open. "Joey."
He ran over to him.

Hands ran over the mirror tracing the reflection as if he had never seen his own face before. Joey though seemed not to even notice the intrusion.

Yugi stopped behind him. Then reached a hand out putting it on his shoulder.
"Joey?"

Joey turned his head to look at the other. As before flames flickered behind the eyes, but they didn’t look as dark this time. A hand reached out to Yugi, and began to feel along the others face.

"Are you ok?" He asked tilting his head into Joey's touch.

"Yeah.." said a voice totally unlike Joeys. It was softer, yet it held much force behind it.

Yugi shivered a bit.
"Joey?" He knew it was Joey but was it another Joey or was it someone like Yami?

The other smiled, and bent down so he was eye to eye with the smaller boy. "No..." once again hands explored him dipping lower then before only to return back to his face.

Yugi's breathing quickened a bit but the boy wasn’t sure if it was nerves or because of the others touch.
"No? then who?"

The lips curled back in a soft smile, and rubbed the other boys hair now. "Jono." this one said.

"J-Jono... Are you... his Yami?"

Jono nodded, and then stood back up to his full height. Jono's hair seemed more blond then the others, and eyes seemed so soft as if he could harm none.

"You seem... so kind... Then who... Who attacked Malik?"

"Me..." said the other one smiling more so now. "He wasn’t treating Joey very nicely... and I was just starting to wake up... and well I needed to work the kinks out.."

He nodded starring up at him finding the others soul so much of a draw that he couldn’t help it.

Jono smiled at the boy. "Just a little taller, and you would make me think of the Pharaoh." said Jono as he kissed Yugi's cheek.

Yugi blushed.
"Jono." He murmured hand going to his cheek.

Jono smiled, and then walked past Yugi admiring the world about himself. "This is a very weird palace.."

"Not a palace its a game store."

"OH... its big."

He shrugged then felt something insistent inside of him and his hand went to his puzzle.
"Yami?"
There was a flash from the puzzle as the pharaoh emerged.
"Jono?"

Jono whipped about seeing the Pharaoh he fell to his knees, and pressed his face to the floor. "My Lord.. My master..."

Yami ran over to him kneeling down and lied across him nuzzling his neck.
"Jono. I’m missed you." He murmured.

"Master Yami I have missed you greatly, and have dreamed I would be able to serve you again." Jono said as he kept his face against the ground.

Yami cupped his chin lifting it up so that he could look at him.
"Jono."

Jono closed his eyes. "I am not worthy to look into my masters face , let alone the rulers." Jono chirped out.

"I thought we got passed that pet." he murmured nipping his lip.

Jono’s eyes opened wide. "Master... " purred Joey's Yami.

Yami smiled then got to his feet and held out a hand to Jono.

Jono sat there for awhile longer before he placed his hand in Yami's hand.

Yami drew him to his feet then walked over to sit on the bed and despite the cute blankets still locked regal as he sat there watching the other spirit.

"Everything is different Master" Jono said as he looked about not even noticing he still clung to the Rod.

"Very. It’s many years after our time my Jono."

Jono sighed, and laid back somewhat as if seeking safety in the roof. "I am sorry for scaring you master."

"You were almost a threat to my Hikari Jono I don’t like that."

Jono lowered his eyes. "The other one... scared my Hikari, he......" Jono went quiet. "I am sorry it is no excuse."

"He what Jono?"

"He made me feel like betraying you for him... I am not worthy to even sit near you master."

"Don’t be upset. Affections are an odd thing. We see things that we want to obtain and humans that we think that we want so we go after them with little thought to consequences."

Jono sighed, and suddenly Joey was once more in his place sitting there. "Damn that feels weird."

Yami looked down at him then was gone as well leaving a confused Yugi sitting there.

"Hey Yug.. what just happened?"

He shook his head.
"I’m not sure Yami wouldn’t let me see."

"I felt like I was the back seat driver to my own body, and I couldn’t even do what I wanted! I saw Yami.. I couldn’t hear him... but I saw him." Joey sighed.

He reached out and stroked Joey's hair soothingly.
"Ts whs what its like to have a Yami."

"Our Yami’s seemed to know one another... and I never knew yours was so playful."

"P-Playful?"

Not knowing a better way to explain Joey reached over, and nipped Yugi's lip. "Like that."

Yugi let out a gasp.

Joey merely nodded.

Yugi lied back on his bed hand going o stroke his lip.

Joey got up to look out at the window. "What now Yug?"

"Mmmmmm." Was the smaller boy's only answer.

Joey stood shaking at the window. So much had happened, and he didn’t know how to explain it.

"Come lie down Joey." He said closing his eyes holing out a hand.

Joey just paced the room. His mind was running but no body was really home.

Yugi rolled onto his side curling up in a sleepy ball.

Joey finally calmed enough to lay next to Yugi. He slipped tucked the rod close to him as he curled up near the other.

"Joey." He murmured sleepily. "Your Yami is nice."

"I hope..."

Yugi opened his eyes then rolled over to face him and took the rod and set it and puzzpuzzle on his desk before rolling Joey onto his back and sat straddling his hips.
"Be happy Joey! I don’t like you being sad. Do it or I'll tickle you!"

"Is that your Yami threatening me or is that the little boy I see before me?" Joey said with a grin.

Yugi pouted.
"Be nice! Its not my fault I’m short." He complained.

"Yeah but your very cute. I like your looks," Once again Joey blushed at his own comment.

Yugi giggled and blushed.
"Whatever."

Joey stuck his tongue out, and then squirmed away from thy soy so he could lock the door. "Now your trapped with the feared Joey, and Jono."

Yugi lied on the bed his head hanging off so that he saw Joey upside down then grinned sticking his tongue out at him.

Joey laughed. "Hey... does this mean I will be a better dueler now that I got a Yami?!"

Yugi let out an indignant sound then reached out for Joey only to fall off of the bed and land in a heap.

Joey couldn’t help but laugh, and he sat down by Yugi, and helped him right himself.

"Your so mean." He said looking up at him then giggled. "If I remember it correctly I beat you even before I had a Yami."

Joey stuck out his tongue. "If it weren’t for me you would never had finished the puzzle."

"Cause you stole a piece!" Yugi tackled him just barely able to knocked him over.

"Careful Yug.... I know your weak spot.."

"What?"

Joey grinned, and began to tickle Yugi's sides.

Yugi let out a squeal.
"Joey! No! Ahhh! Have mercy!" He cried trying to escape him falling onto his side trying to get away.

"I warned you Yug." Joey said as he kept up that attack.

"Ahhh! No! Mercy! Mercy! Joey!' He begged through giggles.

Joey kept up the assault for a few more minutes. "Wet yourself yet Yug?" Joey asked as he looked at the panting child.

"N-No! P-Please M-Mercy!" He gasped tears of laughter falling from his eyes.

Joey smiled, and kissed Yugi's cheek. "Since you asked so nicely."

Yugi let out a whimper of relief his eyes sinking closed as he tried to catch his breath.

Another quick tickly, and a innocent look later found Joey hiding under the messy bed.

Yugi opened an eye then got to his feet and fell heavily across the bed squishing Joey a little.
"Unconscious." He announced closing his eyes.

"Huh... " came the replay as Joey freed himself from the zoo under the bed. "Yo Yugi... you might want to clean that thing out someday.. I swear there are mice waving at me.."

"Yeah yeah. Maybe."

Joey smiled. "Did I ever tell ya what the rod can do Yugi?"

Yugi giggled.

"Yug?"

"I’m sorry. What can your Rod do Joey."

"I can control people!"

Yugi sat up all humor gone from his face.
"That’s nothing to be excited about."

"Hey just think about Yug... if anyone every tries to steal your gramps soul.. it will be so much easier to get it back."

"But Pegasus is gone now we don’t have to worry about that."

"What about if people try to hurt you, or our friends?"

"Its still no reason to use such a power Joey."

"Just think.. I could will a person to live if they had a bad wound... you know what they say mind over matter."

"I don’t know." He said getting up to his feet and went over to look out of his window nervous again.

"Yug.."

"Its nothing. I just..."

"Just what?"

"I dint really like it. The power that they have. The puzzle only allows Yami to help me duel but the others are dangerous... they scare me."

Joey sighed. "You know I wont use it for nothing bad.."

He looked away.
"But what says that your Yami wont. He seems nice to me but even he admitted that he did hurt Malik with it."

"not hurt.. contained.. besides my Yami listens to your Yami."

He nodded and hung his head before he looked over to Joey.
"I’m going to go find him."

"Who?"

"Malik. I’m worried about him."

Once more a light surrounded Joey, and a hand snatched up pack and rod. "Fine... Follow me young master." said Jono. "Your friend would not have returned without my help."

"What do you mean." he asked running up to him stopping right in front of him starring again.

"Its a good ways off... Joey wasn’t paying attention as he followed. I was."

"Oh." He found himself reaching forward then stopped.

Jono unlocked the door, and then pushed the rod into his pack. Removing the jacket he put on the backpack, and slide the jacket over it to hide it from view. Once that was done the Yami started off. "Know this young master no harm shall come to you."

Yugi put on his puzzle again then called for Yami to come out and be with his friend and it was Yami that followed Jono to where they wheadheaded.

"No hard shall befall you my Pharaoh." Said the other as he lead him down twisting streets, and alleyways.

"Of course not, I doubt you would allow that."

Jono smiled. "I never did either master." Soon the docks where reached, and the boat was approached.

.Malik was sitting in the corner of his room hoping that Rashid would return to him. He knew that Joey Wheeler had chased him off but he didn’t think that he would stay gone. Or at least he hoped that he wouldn’t after all Rashid was all that he had left and he was scared that Joey would come back.

Jono walked down the steps, and saw Malik. "Oh... ISHY!!! guess who!!"

Malik pressed back farther into the corner whimpering.

Jono walked up to sit upon the bed. "What no kiss lover boy." Once more dark flames burned in his eyes as he face seemed to harden.

Malik shook his head scared beyond belief.
"What do you want! I have nothing more for you."

"I brought a visitor Ishy poo..."

Yami walked in looking over at the Egyptian then over at Jono.
"So this is what you did to him." He said crossing his arms.
Malik looked up and then hid his face again whimpering.

Jono nodded. "Now Ishy where are you manners. Say hello to your Pharaoh."

"H-Hello." He murmured.

"Such a good Ishy..., now then Ishy answer any questions like a good boy... or else.."

He made a small scared sound but nodded trying to press deeper into the corner.

"Ask away master Yami."

Yami walked over and then knelt down in front of Malik reaching out to touch his hair in which he flinched away visibly.
"We aren’t please with you actions of late Malik. And it brings shame to your family who was so loyal all of these years. But your father was a bit of the fanatic so I cant really blame you for hating me. But dragging others into it was a bad idea. What are we to do with you now?"

"I don’t know my Pharaoh." He said frightened.

"I will think up a fun punishment my master." Jono offered.

Malik let out a sob as Yami helped him to his feet and led him over to where Jono was sitting forcing him down on the bed then patted his back.
"Shhh. Be easy pet."

Jono wrapped his arms about Ishtar. "Happy to see you again Ishy..."

Malik nodded looking at him scared of what he was going to do.

"Any suggestions... or shall I fry him up now?"

"Jono." Yami said sitting next to him.

"Fine.. a nice whipping.. or I could cut him up like he threatened to do to me.."

"That’s not nice."

"You never said I had to be nice master."

Yami laughed.
"I guess that your right." he rolled Malik onto his back. "But well treated pets are better pets. I don’t like ones that whimper and shrink away from my touch."

"As you wish master.." Jono said as he trailed a finger up the boys front.