Judgment Dragon

Chapter One: Up

“Good morning Yugi. Happy birthday!” Yugi was greeted cheerily by his grandpa. Yugi smiled brightly jumping out of his bed quickly, careful not to step on the brooding pharaoh who looked like he had not slept that night.

“Morning Grandpa. I’ll be down for breakfast in a flash.”

Grandpa, as he was known to Yugi, and just about everyone in the clan with him was know so due to not only the literal fact of being Yugi’s actual grandpa, but also because of his age, wisdom, and his kind and caring nature. He smiled once more before shutting the door and descending the stairs toward the kitchen.

“Yami?” he asked, sitting down at the foot of the bed next to the pharaoh in question. Yami had looked strained and sleepless. He had been sleeping or rather not sleeping at the foot of Yugi’s bed for the past few nights. He was still getting used to being outside of the puzzle with his own form again. The puzzle itself looked dull now that its power had been exhausted with Yugi’s wish for Yami to be free.

“I am fine little one. It is still a little straining is all.” He turned to stare at the smaller of them, offering up a tender half smile.

“Happy birthday Yugi,” he finally said.

Yugi smiled and giggled a little under his gaze, rubbing his tri-colored spiky hair.

“Thanks Yami. Hey, you should get some sleep. The party is not till later after school anyhow. You’ll . . .” he trailed off, suddenly experiencing a lack of confidence under the dark gaze of the man that had once inhabited his body, but was now his own, but still sometimes in his thoughts. He felt confused, wondering why those dark eyes flickered then stilled.

“Don’t worry Yugi. I’ll be rested for your party. Now, get to school before you’re late,” Yami reassured him.

Yugi smiled at him, hoping that whatever was bothering the once pharaoh would be eased somewhat by the smile, and some rest.

~*~
“Oh come on Yugs you can’t go any easier on me? It’s ya birthday.”

“Joey , that’s backwards. You should be going easy on Yugi since it’s his birthday.”

“I would except then this duel would have been over an hour ago.”

“That’s precisely why you should have,” answered Tea, folding her arms in disapproval of the extra long duel that had taken up the entire lunch period. But for Yugi’s enjoyment, and the silly grin he had when he finally did beat Joey, she would tolerate it.

“So everyone is coming over after school right?” asked Yugi.

“Definitely Yug. Your Grandpa’s cookin right?”

“Good to see that losing doesn’t stop your appetite,” responded Tristan. Joey flushed with embarrassment and then excitement as he pumped his fist.

“No way would I miss that feast!”

Yugi began to snicker then burst with laughter when Tristan pelted Joey with a leftover rice ball that Tea had made special for Yugi’s birthday. The two conceded to run off, Joey chasing Tristan back inside the school.

“Have you thought of what to wish for Yugi?” Tea asked suddenly. Yugi’s laughter slowly died with the turn of conversation. Yugi linked his fingers together in his lap and thought about things to wish for.

“To be honest Tea,” he smiled widely, “I have everything I could ever possibly want.”

“Yugi you’re allowed at least one selfish wish on your birthday. Come on, is there some card you want, or some game, maybe some special puzzle?”

“Well, I guess there is one thing I want.”

“What is it?”

And just as Yugi was ready to tell Tea about his wish for Yami to feel better he heard the school bell ringing, and then he heard Joey yelling to them from across the yard.

“Hey you to slow pokes hurry up. Last one to class is a rotten sushi roll.”

Yugi and Tea grabbed their bags and straightened their uniforms before running after Joey inside the school building.

~*~
Yami sank into the cartoon blankets on Yugi’s bed, sighing contently. He breathed in the scent that was left by the younger man. He pulled off his shirt and socks and slipped beneath the covers lying on his back, linking his arms behind his head. The breeze came through the window, keeping the room cool. He had dreaded this time since he had come to care for Yugi and his group of friends. This was the last year he would probably be tolerated by the young, freshly eighteen year old duelist. If he was the light to him, Yami wasn’t sure he could bear to watch him leave, let alone encourage him to continue wherever he wanted to go. He didn’t have a choice however, but Yami was plagued with the question of what to do after Yugi left.

Would he simply stay put and take Yugi’s place as Grandpa’s help in the game shop? He was the king of games after all, and knew as much about dueling as Yugi. But that option seemed very lonely, boring, and stale. He had grown fond of the boy in his image. Yami often felt estranged to look down and see that he and Yugi almost looked like twins, but then again, he could pick out the differences. Yugi’s eyes were fuller, brighter, and closer to a blue-violet rather than his own skinnier, darker eyes. Yugi was obviously shorter, and softer, still containing a few traces of baby fat. Yami could feel the straining muscles in his own harder, taller body. Yes, they were somewhat similar, the tri-colored hair, and the obvious love for the game of duel monsters, but also they were different. Moreover, Yami was now in his own body, a wish that he never had, but was granted by the boy who was currently haunting his thoughts.

Yami turned over and tried to relax. The gang of people he knew as friends would be home from school soon, and he wanted to surprise Yugi with a gift. He knew he’d have to sleep in order to tolerate the hustle and bustle of the shopping market. He was still getting used to having his own body again.

~*~
Yugi felt an excitement as he walked home. Tea, Joey, and Tristan had promised to drop by after they went home to change and get whatever party favors they had. Yugi took his time, enjoying the nice sunny weather[1]. He loosened his tie, feeling a little bit hot, and continued to enjoy his stroll home. As he reached the edge of the shopping market, he watched the shopping crowd, all seeming to radiate the same brightness of the sun. He passed the sweetshop and decided to treat himself, especially since it was in fact his birthday.

Mr. Tanaka had run the sweetshop since as long as he could remember, and Mr. Tanaka always had something new for Yugi to try whenever his Grandpa wanted something sweet for desert after dinner. Today was no different.

“Hello Yugi. You seem different today.”

“Really? What makes you say that?” he asked, leaning against the glass case above all the freshly baked cookies, realizing that just a little bit ago he hadn’t been tall enough to see over the glass. Sure, he wasn’t as tall as Joey and Tristan had grown, but he had caught up a great deal.

“I don’t know. But, I do know that I have something for you to try.” Mr. Tanaka, an older gentleman like his Grandpa, with pure white hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. He was shorter than Yugi now, but still moving healthily. He went past the row of chocolate chip cookies and using the pair of tongs that were placed on a hook near the cookie display, he removed a cookie from a row that was beneath the visible rows of different types of cookies. He placed it on a napkin and handed it to Yugi. Yugi bit normally into the cookie, and let the taste settle on his tongue. Most noticeably, there was the taste of normal sugar cookie, but then suddenly there was a mixture of fruits, and Yugi was surprised to even identify the taste of pineapple. He quickly stuffed the rest of the cookie into his mouth and then blushed in embarrassment when he realized what he did.

“Well I take it by your actions that you liked the cookie,” Mr. Tanaka commented, chuckling slightly as Yugi brushed the crumbs from his hands. Mr. Tanaka removed a bag and began to fill the bag with the cookies that were hiding on the other side of the display.

“Here you go Yugi. I know it’s your birthday, your grandpa sent a young man by to pick up your cake earlier. He looks a lot like you. Is that your brother?”

Yugi laughed nervously.

“Never mind, I know when it’s not my business, happy birthday Yugi. That must be why you look different. Maybe you look older. Certainly taller, but maybe even a bit wiser.”

“Thanks Mr. Tanaka. I’ll see you later. And you should definitely sell these cookies. They’re fantastic,” he said making his way toward the door, finally exiting after biting into another cookie.

Yugi made his way down the street, smiling happily at the taste of the cookie, and the thought that he looked older. The question now was, did he feel any older? Yugi contemplated this the whole walk home. And when he passed an ally, he didn’t notice a pair of dark violet almost red eyes following him down the street.

“Yugi,” he whispered quietly to himself. He watched the boy until he was almost a tiny dot in his vision down the street, then he walked out of the ally onto the sidewalk, making his way to an antique shop. He descended the stairs into the building, his presence announced by the loud squeaking of an old stair, and Malik easily appeared from behind the counter.

“Hello, welcome to . . . oh. It’s you. Hi Yami. Or are you Yugi?”

“You have what I asked for?” he answered, ignoring Malik’s question.

Malik nodded and came from behind the counter and went to a vertical glass display case containing many different charms. He unlocked the case, the keys jingling as he turned the lock. Malik reached to grab the charms but Yami grabbed his hand.

“I’ll get them if you don’t mind.”

Yami reached in, grabbing the seven piece charm puzzle that was connected by a long gold chain.

“You don’t trust me even now Yami?”

“I don’t have much more time before I’m missed. What do you want in return that was so dire you couldn’t say it over the… phone?” Yami answered, still unfamiliar with the contraption.

“I want you to tell me what these are,” Malik said walking back to behind the counter, and unlocking the door marked employees only, and holding it open for Yami. Yami felt the corners of the puzzle piece charms press into his palm sharply as he entered behind Malik, wondering what the man had discovered since his last trip to Egypt.

He pulled a sheet off a table and uncovered a box covered in hieroglyphics. Yami used his free hand to feel the pictures and suddenly the ancient language filled his mouth and spilled forth as he read the inscription softly to himself.

“If I need a translator I wouldn’t have bothered. Stop fooling around Yami, and open it.” Yami felt the change in the air around them, and knew that while Malik had been ridden of his millennium rod, he still had dark within him. But even Yami couldn’t deny that there was darkness in him as well. The box intrigued him, for the inscription was of course a curse. But he suspected that if anyone was cursed, it was Malik, for the box had already been opened.

“Open it yourself,” Yami finally said, not trusting the man at all. Malik smiled and lifted the stone box top, and inside was a tablet and 6 white marbles.

“It’s old.”

“Nice deduction. Have you been outside so long that you…”

“Older than me. I’d have to read the tablet. But right now I haven’t the time. I will consult with you later Malik.”

“But wait you . . .” Malik stopped halfway, realizing that his words would fall upon deaf ears. Yami was already halfway upstairs, the newly sculpted puzzle charms clinking around as he hurried away. Malik rolled his pants leg up and grimaced as the large black blemish that had started when he first opened the box began to pulsate. Then, it inched slowly across his skin, growing a little bit more than its original size.

“I better figure this one out quickly. Before it’s too late.”

~*~
“Happy birthday Yugi!” they all shouted as Yugi entered the door of his kitchen. Everyone was sitting around the round kitchen table where Yugi’s cake was the center, depicting the Dark Magician and the words ‘Happy 18th Birthday Yugi’ flowing from the wand of the Magician. To match the Dark Magician the icing was violet, purple, and lavender, along with a white base. The party favors had to do with duel monsters of course, and Yugi laughed heartily when Tristan sprayed Joey in the face with silly string.

“Come on you two. Today is about Yugi. Let’s stop with the antics,” Tea said, setting her gift for Yugi next to the cake where other gifts were also sitting. There was an extremely big box in the corner, the wrapping a shiny blue with a plain silver bow on the top.

“Alright. So Yugs what ya wanna do first?” Joey asked.

“Um, I’m not sure I wanna start unless Yami is here. But I guess we can start opening gifts while we wait. Although, you guys really shouldn’t have.”

“Here open mine,” Tea said eagerly. She quickly slid her box toward Yugi. Yugi smiled and began un-wrapping the gift slowly. Yugi opened the painted box to find inside was a picture frame of the four of them a couple years ago.

“Jeesh, did my hair always look that bad back then,” commented Joey.

“No. There were worse days. Like today,” said Tristan. Joey scowled.

“I’m happy we’re still friends guys. I could have never made it without you. Thanks Tea. I appreciate this a lot,” Yugi said standing the picture up and placing the torn paper on the floor, starting a trash pile.

“Who got that big present?” asked Joey.

“It was on the door step this morning,” answered Soloman as he walked in carrying a grocery bag. He emptied the contents into the sink, all seemingly vegetables, except for ice cream, which he quickly stored in the freezer. They all greeted Soloman happily, Joey greeting the older gentleman with a bow then a hug.

“Good to see ya Gramps.”

Yugi pushed the big box closer to the table, picking up the card that was on top of it. He slid his index finger underneath the crease of the envelope, opening it, and removing the card. Yugi read aloud.

“Dear Yugi, Enjoy the enclosed gift, but expect for it to be used later for our official rematch. Hey, it has the Kaiba crest at the bottom.”

“Guess he’s not a jerk after all,” said Tristan. Yugi removed the paper from the box and revealed a brown box marked top secret. Soloman, quickly thinking, handed Yugi the box cutters from the utility drawer. Yugi dragged the blade across the opening and inside was what looked like a new duel disk.
He removed the contraption and quickly noticed improvements from the old ones, making the duel disk lighter in his hands.

“Wow,” said Joey, mystified by the new technology.

“Wow. Thanks Kaiba,” Yugi said despite the absence of said person. Yugi put the duel disk carefully back in the impression of it in the Styrofoam. He sat back down, and smiled as Joey handed him what could easily be identified as a card that was wrapped in newspaper.

“I saw it while I was visiting Serenity and I knew you should have it. It’s the Judgment Dragon[2] card.”

Yugi nodded, knowing a little about the card from a prior duel.

“Thanks Joey. I’ll be sure to use it when I need to.”

Yugi placed the card next to the picture of them face up, and he nodded at the two gifts. Tristan then handed Yugi an envelope.

“Here ya go Yugi. I couldn’t really think of what to get ya so, well, you’ll see.”

Yugi opened the envelope and pulled out the blank card, opening it and a bunch of streamers and confetti flew out onto his face. He blinked some of the confetti out of his eyes and read the card aloud.

“Here’s to turnin older Yugi. Enclosed is 2000[3] yen. Hopefully you’ll be able to buy ya somethin nice. Signed Tristan.” Yugi pulled out the crisp bill and looked at Tristan earnestly.

“Tristan you shouldn’t have. You all shouldn’t have. I’m just happy you’re all here with me. I’m going to miss you and Tea next year. You’ll be at University in America and Tea will be at dance school in France”

“Don’t worry Yugs the Joemeister is still right here for ya. And I’m sure these two will keep in touch. Right guys?” said Joey.

“Yeah!” Tea and Tristan replied in unison. They all smiled at each other and remembered their promise to always fight and stand by each other in times of need. Just then, Joey’s stomach growled loudly.

“Hehe guess that means it’s time to eat.”

“Joey you pig,” said Tea.

“Yeah Joey you can’t . . .” before Tristan could reply, his own stomach growled, louder than Joey’s. Soloman smiled and began to clear the table of debris, leaving the cake untouched. He then placed out the spread, Tea rising to help carry some of the food. Yugi pulled his chair out some but was stopped by a deep voice he had become all to familiar with.

“Don’t worry Yugi. It is your birthday. I’ll put your gifts in your room,” Yami said, reaching over Yugi’s shoulder to grab the cards and picture frame. He put the gifts on top of the box from Kaiba and moved it all through the narrow kitchen door, disappearing again.

“When did Yami get here,” Yugi asked.

“What are you talking about Yugi, he was standing there when you opened Kaiba’s gift,” answered Soloman.

Yugi turned around looking at his friends for help, but Joey and Tristan were too busy stuffing their faces. He looked at Tea and she smiled at him, taking her seat and also beginning to eat. Yugi shrugged and just as he was about to get up to get a plate, he found Yami was already there, grabbing plates and silverware for both of them. He looked at Yugi reassuringly, then smiled a genuine smile.

The dish was delicious, and everyone was satisfied. Even Yami, who usually did not eat had eaten in its entirety, the little amount of food that he had put on his plate.

“Hey Gramps the meal was delicious. So uhh rumor is this cake was special made by Mr. Tanaka. Hehe.”

“Joseph, are you implying that you’re ready for cake now,” asked Soloman. Yugi shook his head.

“Yeah Grandpa, I think I could go for this cake right now too,” said Yugi. Everyone looked at Yugi surprised and astounded.

“Yugi has always had a sweet tooth,” replied Soloman. Yugi giggled and threw his hands up in a shrug. Soloman rose slightly, but Yami stopped him.

“I’ll get the candles,” Yami said. The group continued to chat about the cake as Yami placed the 1 and the 8 candle sticks in the middle of the cake, careful not to smudge the writing nor the Dark Magician.

“Would you all like to see a magic trick,” said Yami, as he rolled up the sleeves of his borrowed white shirt.

“Yeah Yam. Go ahead,” said Joey. The others nodded and waited patiently as he turned the lights out in the room making it dark. Yami focused his thoughts, and with a wave of his hand the two candles lit, lighting the room and Yugi’s mystified face.
“Wow,” said Yugi, and everyone clapped. Then as Yami took his place next to Yugi, they all began to sing happy birthday. Once they reached the end of the song and Yugi got ready to take his breath, Tea whispered, “Don’t forget to make a wish Yugi.”

Yugi closed his eyes, envisioning his wish in his mind, and then blew the candles out. Yami felt his heart jump when each flame went out, and he wondered what kind of magic just happened with Yugi’s wish.

“Alright. Yes! Cake time. Hurry up and cut your piece Yugs. I’m starving.”

“Joey,” Tea and Tristan said simultaneously.

~*~

After the cake had been cut, and ice cream scooped, and clean up was finished, Yugi found himself sitting on his bed, putting together the new duel disk Kaiba had sent. Yami had been downstairs helping his Grandpa clean, but when he heard the door open and shut, he knew Yami had returned. Yugi put the new duel disk on his nightstand and patted his bed, motioning for Yami to sit across from him.

“Yugi, I have a gift for you.”

“Yami!”

“Shh. Here,” he said extending his hand to the younger man. In his palm were the charm pieces that were attached to a gold chain.

“It’s a puzzle isn’t it Yami?”

“Yes. I was quite fond of it, when it was mine. It brought me luck. You will have to solve it to wear it of course. But, this is nothing new to you,” Yami answered, referring to the puzzle that Yugi insisted to still wear around his neck, despite its now dull power. Yugi smiled and began to try to assemble the charm pieces.

“Thank you Yami. I’m glad I’m able to talk to you outside of the puzzle now. It was kinda weird.” He laughed a little, already fitting together three of the charms. He could feel some kind of magic tingling already.

“So why haven’t you been sleeping Yami. What’s bothering you?”

Yami didn’t answer. He rose and began undressing, getting ready for bed. Yugi took his silence as a signal to push for it.

“Let’s play a game Yami,” Yugi said knowing he couldn’t resist. Yugi put down the charm puzzle and removed his deck from its usual sling. Yami, never resisting a game, smirked and sat down across from the freshly eighteen year old duelist. Yugi took off his tie and unbuttoned his top buttons, while Yami was wearing his black tank top and black slacks.

“So, how about we draw cards from anywhere in the deck,” he said spreading the cards out in a line.

“And,” Yami replied.

“And, whoever draws the Dark Magician first, wins. If I draw him first, you have to tell me whats bothering you.”

“And if I win?”

“Well. What do you want?”

Yami thought hard about what he could possibly want from the boy. He was still suffering an age shock, still thinking of him as a boy, when in reality after today, he was basically a man. A man who was smaller than him, had baby fat, and still had the innocence of a child. Or so, that is what Yami perceived him to have.

“To not tell you what’s bothering me. That will be fine enough.”

Yugi grimaced, and Yami seeing this felt a tug at his heartstrings. It was not that he wanted him to be sad, but he knew there was too much weight to admitting the longing to stay with the man for the rest of his life. Yami was just uncertain of what kind of feelings came with that. Whether it was friendly companionship… or worse, pure unadulterated love for that tri-colored almost spitting image of himself, eighteen year old. Yami was unsure, which meant that he had to win this little game. He smirked and tried to assure Yugi it’d be okay.

“You can draw first birthday boy,” he said looking at Yugi devilishly.

Yugi felt a small smile curve in his lips as he drew a card and flipped it over to reveal Swords of Revealing Light.

“This is a good sign, revealing things anyhow,” said Yugi. Yami simply reached out to draw his own card, starting from the end of the deck. He flipped it over and his breath caught when he read Dark Magician, but he sighed when he finished reading and found it said Girl behind those two words.

“Too bad,” Yami said. Yugi reached to the middle of the deck, this time taking his time with his choice. He skipped over two cards and then stopped suddenly at one. He drew it and flipped it over revealing Magical Hats.
“I’m getting warmer,” Yugi said smiling. The boy’s cheerfulness made Yami feel cheerful, a feeling he rarely ever had.

“Let’s hope for your sake that I’m not boiling hot,” Yami replied lifting one eyebrow. He reached into the same area Yugi had, and with a certainty that belonged only to the former pharaoh, he drew, revealing Mystic Box.

“Hm, I was sure this would be it. Your draw Yugi.”

Yugi closed his eyes, and instead of reaching into the same spot where they had found the magic cards that went with the card in question, and he draw from the end of the deck. He flipped the card and sighed, finding Gamma the Magnet Warrior.

Yami drew his card quickly, wasting no time to taunt or joke with the smaller man. He smiled and flipped his card, revealing Dark Magician.

“Looks like I won this one. But I wonder, why’d you let me win?” asked Yami, collecting the cards and placing the deck back into its holster.

“How do you know I let you win?” replied Yugi, who had picked the charm puzzle back up and began to work on it again.

“I saw you feel it. You love that card, and you always know where it is in the deck when we duel. So why’d you let me win Yugi.”

“I didn’t want to push you to be honest. At first, because you know, I worry myself silly about everyone, I didn’t mind pressing. But then, you’d just pull away more if I forced you into it. Right?”

“Wrong.”

“Wrong?”

Yami desired to tell the boy everything he was feeling. His nostalgia had reached an all time high for the days when they shared a mind, and Yugi could easily figure him out, but now he had the choice of being brave or cowering for the sake of Yugi’s future. A future that he wanted Yugi to choose without the pressure of having a 5000 year old pharaoh still living in his room.

“Try the other direction.” Yami did not elaborate further on the issue of his lack of sleep, instead choosing to try to help with the puzzle. The fourth piece easily slid into place in the other direction and Yugi smiled.

Yugi continued to work in the silence that had fallen upon them, and did not stop even when Yami had turned the light out and made his way to the foot of the bed beginning to spread out a cover and pillow. Yugi slipped the charm puzzle onto his night stand and prepared for bed himself. Once he was under the covers, he was surprised to hear Yami’s calm deep voice echo across the room.

“Goodnight Yugi, happy birthday.”

“Goodnight Yami.”

[1] Yugi's Birthday is June 4th, but I'm not sure about the school calendar so decide for yourself.
[2] Actual card. wikia it.
[3] I'm pretty sure that's 20 U.S. dollars, but I'm not sure.

Reviews are much appreciated