Spirits, Boats and Crackers (Part 1)

DIMENSION: MANGA (The One That Saves the Day)

///Atem: Yuugi. I'm sorry, but I cannot avoid this. If I didn't come, the results would have been unfavorable. Although you have proved to me that I belong in the afterlife, I . . . I couldn't stay.///

"What is it?"

///Atem: Something is wrong. I didn't want to jeopardize the gift you gave me, setting me free. You and the others did so much to help me.///

"If something was wrong, then I'd be happy to help," Yuugi said. "What is it you need?"

///Atem: I've already done it. On the other side, there is another Millennium Stone, alike in every way to the one that was on this side. Except, it had no millennium puzzle. It was shared between, creating a connection and a curse between the afterlife and the living world.///

"So it's over?" Yuugi asked him. "Then, what's wrong?"

///Atem: I don't understand everything, and I'm sorry for that. I have a deep feeling Zorc will not return, but . . . something is coming. I only know very little.///

"Well, you can tell me what you know," Yuugi insisted.

///Atem: Isis Ishtar, Marik Ishtar and Rishid are dead. I fear it's just a start.///

Oh. "They just wanted to live free."

///Atem: The movements and the actions being taken, people have gained an awareness of what is going on. There is something coming that is calling to the likes of the Blue-Eyes and the Dark Magician Girl.///

Oh no! "They are actually here? In this world?" Damn. "There are some people after us," Yuugi confessed to him. "It got so bad, even Anzu came back to Japan."

///Atem: Yes, I know, and I got here just in time. I have joined with you again.///

"But?" ///Yuugi: There is no millennium puzzle. So how does this occur?///

///Atem: There is no separate attachment with the puzzle. There is no way for me to take over your body. There is no separate soul room. I am now in yours.///

"Just like Satiah," Yuugi said. Oh yeah. "Satiah, the woman from the card."

///Atem: I know about Satiah, Yuugi. It is a similar ordeal. Yuugi, this will affect us as well as our closest friends, according to Kaiba. I don't know how, except I have been here for hours, and am only now able to communicate. I was trapped in your soul room. Unable to feel, talk to you or get out. I had no perception of what was going on.///

"Like the beginning, when we first joined," Yuugi noted. "Do you know how you break free?"

///Atem: No. It was either this or be reborn. It would be years before I could help if that happened. If given the choice, I would rather wait as a spirit.///

"Do you know anything else? What's supposed to happen to our friends?" Yuugi asked. "Anzu has a spirit. Who else is involved?"

///Atem: Reincarnation of a Pharaoh who wielded the millennium puzzle takes a certain kind of luck. It would have been quite weird. No doubt Seto Kaiba would have told you.///

"What?"

///Atem: Having you as a father. Don't worry, I got back in time.///

What? "Uh?"

"Atem: While you don't wear the millennium puzzle, you were still connected to me, Yuugi. A thin connection but with me wearing it in the afterlife, it was still multiplied several times. Luck was still on your side. Or, to be more accurate? The lotteries of life that happen in low percentages are on your side. Just like the cards.///

The cards. "We had to hope enough for the right card. It didn't just happen." Yuugi was still trying to put it together. Still connected. Low percentages. Yuugi's eyes grew wide. "Oh! Oops."

///Atem: Yes. You were tricked into bringing Anzu here, Yuugi. They knew how much you cared for her and the chances they could get what they wanted.///

"Oh. Oh, well? Oh. I don't think Anzu would have been happy about that one." Damn! Yuugi dodged that one.

///Atem: True, I doubt having your friend reincarnated into your own child would have been the easiest. Kaiba would definitely never leave you alone about it. It's alright, as long as I am with you, that can't happen anymore. The luck has been lifted. The millennium items are gone for good.///

Oh! "Kaiba stopped by," Yuugi said. "He stopped by with baby shirts and bibs with cards on them. One with even the puzzle." He smacked his head.

///Atem: Baby shirts? Ooh, that's Kaiba for you. He never changed no matter how many times he visited. He played with me in the afterlife. He found a way to reach me.///

" . . . that's kind of crazy." Yuugi didn't know where to stare. "That's Kaiba for you." It was strange not having somewhere to look. "Do you know anything else? Bakura?"

///Atem: Most likely he will be affected, but I'm not sure. Anyhow. There is no changing what will happen. So? How has life been for you?///

Atem and Yuugi continued to talk. This time, about what was going on in more detail with each other. More openly, as the friends they'd always been.

///Atem: I see. Marik left Mai scarred. Jounouchi must have been trying very hard to help.///

"Oh yeah, I heard him. The day I found out, I wasn't happy," Yuugi admitted, "but when he explained, I could hear it in his voice. He honestly cares for her deeply."

///Atem: He isn't the only one who cared for a friend. I'm proud of you, Yuugi. You finally took the steps you needed to get Anzu.///

Well? "Sort of." Yuugi shifted and looked down at the display case.

///Atem: Sort of? What am I missing?///

"Cards became popular and rare," Yuugi answered, hoping that was what he was referencing.

///Atem: Not that. You are trying to change the subject. I know from the fact I was almost born to you, that you were with Anzu. So what do you mean 'sort of'?///

" . . . she might be going back to America. I mean, she lives in America." Yuugi looked at the cards harder through the display now. "It's where she lives and she built a life before Jounouchi's problem. So. I'm with her. Just, while she's here." Yeah. Atem wasn't saying anything now. ///Yuugi: Disappointed. I know you are.///

///Atem: I'm not disappointed. As long as you have no regrets, and you followed your feelings, you are always fine in my eyes. Maybe they will lead both of you to your own futures.///

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Above in the Kitchen

"There, two sandwiches." Anzu looked over toward the small landline phone. ///Anzu: Okay, it's time./// She picked it up and called Jounouchi.

"Well, hey there, Anzu," Jounouchi greeted her through the phone. "Do I get a reason for the call or is it just to say hi?"

"I did it." She wouldn't hide it. "He came again last night and I didn't reject him."

"Good! 'Cause that would have just ripped out his heart. I knew he'd want to be with you at least one more time before this whole thing was over," Jounouchi said through the phone. "So, you have your answer? You got it, and then I'll come over and talk to him. Promise. No matter what it is."

The answer. "The answer is yes." Yes. "I don't care anymore, Jounouchi. I'm going to start here with him, and then maybe I'll save some money and try dancing here in Japan. Maybe. It's. It's up in the air, but I know that I am staying. I want to stay with Yuugi, but there's so much to tell him."

"Thought so! I'm almost at the Game Shop and then I'll have a talk to Yuugi while Mai comes to chat with you for a bit. Be a good day it sounds like. Don't fret the little stuff, Yuugi knew it was hard. Just concentrate on the 'yes', and that's all that matters, okay?"

"Are you sure?"

"Anzu? Our enemy happened to be people who still believed in magic. Let Yuugi know. Hell, if anything was out for Yuugi, you know Atem would step in and help for a few seconds. He never let him down. No one's going to hurt him because of you. I swear it. Okay?"

She nodded. "You're right. Okay."

------------

Downstairs in the Game Shop

///Atem: Have the cards really become so rare, you don't even carry them anymore, Yuugi?///

Jounouchi walked through the door. "Hey, Yuugi. Time for a chat."

///Atem: Some heavy tension. Jounouchi just finished an intense game with Mai, didn't he?///

///Yuugi: Yep and now it's Honda's turn./// "Hey, Jounouchi. How can I help you? Wanting to change your deck?" Yuugi looked behind him at Mai on the side too. ///Yuugi: Oh good, they are still hanging together.///

///Atem: Did it get rough on Jounouchi when he knew?///

///Yuugi: Yep. And now here comes Honda. Couldn't get a warmer surprise home. Did you want me to tell them about you yet?///

///Atem: Those are new. Oh, a new game corner is back here. There must be many games that came out since I've been gone.///

Yuugi could hear the excitement in Atem. He might not be able to see, but it looked like Atem could still wander close by. ///Atem: Did you get to play in the afterlife with anyone but Kaiba?///

///Atem: No. Everyone became routine, only doing what they did in life. Nothing new happened unless it led to a bad ending. Even Grandpa came in with a sense of life, but did not even care when I ran out with the horse after Kaiba's words. He is free now. They all are.///

Uh? "Fifteen minutes is a long time to make a sandwich." Yuugi looked over by the upstairs. He moved past the display counter to look upstairs. ///Yuugi: It's still locked.///

///Atem: That is heavy security for only a small place, Yuugi. You've handled much rougher.///

///Yuugi: I wanted her to feel safe./// Yuugi went back to the display counter. ///Yuugi: Otherwise, why would she pick me to stay with?/// He heard a small sigh from Atem. He looked toward his crowd of friends and watched Mai step forward. "What can I do for you, Mai?"

Mai looked at the cards. "Could I go up and talk to Anzu, one on one? I'd like to talk about my baby with her."

"Sure, I'll let you in." Yuugi went back upstairs. ///Yuugi: I forgot. Mai's been having dreams of having a little girl named Mana for a very long time. It's one of the reasons she had such trouble expressing the truth.///

///Atem: I know. I've heard. I don't want to alarm Jounouchi, so we'll leave the conversation there.///

///Yuugi: What do you mean? Is Jounouchi and Mai's daughter a part of this?///

///Atem: Yes. She is a reincarnation of someone I once knew. Mana held the power of sorcery and summoned the Dark Magician Girl.///

Oh. ///Yuugi Well? I think we can hold off on that knowledge for now. Jounouchi's getting used to the whole father thing, let alone something like that./// Yuugi deactivated the door. "There you go, Mai."

"Could you do me one more favor, Hun?" Mai asked him. "Watch Jounouchi and Honda. Jounouchi told him about me and he's not . . . happy. I'm going to find Anzu."

"Un." Yuugi went down.

Jounouchi and Honda have been staring at each other most of this whole time.

"Very odd," Atem noticed. "Wait?" Why did Yuugi switch spots with him? When was he able to do that? ///Atem: We did not even tell them about this situation yet, Yuugi. Why did you switch with me? How did you switch with me?///

///Yuugi: I didn't switch.///